A Way You Can Honor Steve Jobs' Life!!

      "The passing of technology industry icon Steve Jobs on October 5 reminded the world once again of how deadly a disease pancreatic cancer is. Legislation is pending in Congress though that can potentially change the status quo for this disease: the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act (S. 362/H.R. 733). This bill would compel the National Cancer Institute to develop a long-term and comprehensive strategic plan to make progress in fighting this silent killer."


Dear friends of Twins With Tots -  This cause means a lot to our family and friends and so we hope you will take a moment to help us support the fight for more funding for Pancreatic Cancer Research.  See below for more details and 
Thanks so much ~
Cathy and Becca

Via Pancreatic Cancer Action Network:


"PLAN TO CALL CONGRESS TOMORROW...
To pass this bill, we need your help. Please join thousands of others from around the country by participating in our national "Dial Congress For Progress Day" TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 25. With just a couple quick calls to your members of Congress who have not yet co-sponsored the bill, you can help us deliver a unified and clear message to Congress: Co-sponsor S. 362/H.R. 733 today! By clicking on the button below, you will have access to who you should call, the phone numbers, and what you should say.  

• http://capwiz.com/pancan/directory/congdir.tt
• http://www.capwiz.com/pancan/issues/alert/?alertid=54345011#.TqV58VAtVwQ.twitter

These phone calls should take no more than 10 minutes of your time, but will make an enormous difference in helping us to pass this bill. Please be sure to make your calls tomorrow, between the hours of 9am and 5pm Eastern Time and to fill out the feedback form (located below the talking points) to let us know how your calls went. Once you complete the feedback form, we will enter your name into a drawing for a $75 gift certificate to our Shop Purple store. 
____________________________________________
Current Co-Sponsor Count for the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act: 

in the U.S. House of Representatives (HR 733) - 165
(including our lead sponsors, Rep. Anna Eshoo & Rep. Leonard Lance)

Click HERE for the full co-sponsor list

in the U.S. Senate (S. 362) 33
(including our lead sponsor, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse) 

Click HERE for the full co-sponsor list to see if YOUR member has joined us!
____________________________________________
...AND EMAIL CONGRESS TODAY!
While tomorrow is the big day, you can take action right now to double your impact. Send a message to your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative and ask them to co-sponsor the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act. If they have already co-sponsored the bill, thank them for their support.
Please make a note now to call your members of Congress tomorrow and ask your friends and family to join you in this effort! Consider posting a message to Facebook or Twitter letting people know that tomorrow is Pancreatic Cancer Dial Congress For Progress Day. Your calls and emails will go a long way toward us reaching our goal of securing half of the House and Senate as co-sponsors of S. 362/H.R. 733.

It's time we make sure that those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have real and effective treatment options and that our elected officials help us Know It, Fight It and End It!"

Sincerely,  Megan Gordon Don and Julie Fleshman

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

TYPE OF PANCREATIC CANCER STEVE JOBS FOUGHT FOR 7 YEARS Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Islet Cell Tumors    • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, also called islet cell tumors, are rare tumors that form from the  hormone-producing cells in the pancreas called islet cells.     • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors account for less than 5% of all pancreatic tumors.  They tend to  grow slower than the most common type of pancreatic cancer called adenocarcinoma.     • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are either functional, which means that they cause overproduction  of hormones, or nonfunctional (produce no hormones).  Most functional neuroendocrine tumors are  benign.  However, approximately 90% of nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors are cancerous.      • The overall average five-year survival rate for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors is 42%,  ranging from 24% to 87%.*     • According to a population-based study, the average life expectancy after diagnosis with a metastatic  pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, which means that the cancer has spread, is 23 months. **    • Symptoms vary depending on the type of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.  Functional pancreatic  neuroendocrine tumors may cause the pancreas to overproduce certain hormones, such as insulin or  glucagon.  High hormone levels in the blood results in symptoms including weight loss, nausea,  vomiting, muscle weakness and skin rash.  Nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors do not  overproduce pancreatic hormones.  They are generally detected because of pain or jaundice caused  by the large size of the tumor.  Treatment options for pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer are somewhat limited. Surgical removal of the  tumor is a common treatment. Some patients may benefit from chemotherapy, targeted therapy,  radiation and/or hormonal therapy.  At this time, there isn’t a standard of care, or standard treatment,for  pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. Two targeted therapy drugs, Afinitor® (everolimus) and Sutent®  (sunitinib), were recently approved by the U.S. FDA to treat advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine  tumors and may be  beneficial for some patients.  Clinical trials are an option for obtaining treatments  that are on the leading edge of medicine. Several therapies are currently being tested for the treatment  of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in clinical trials.   via - Pancreatic Cancer Action Network