PanCAN

Your community is waiting for you! 👟💜 Take steps to end #pancreaticcancer at 🔗 purplestride.org!

Share with the PanCAN community who you’re striding for this Saturday at #PanCANPurpleStride! 👟⬇️

Christina D. shares, "Why should you care about pancreatic cancer if you don’t know anyone who has it? Because at one point, neither did we. For the fourth year, Team Love, Lindsay will be fundraising and walking in PanCAN PurpleStride on April 25, 2026, in honor of Lindsay Gavin — an incredible pediatric nurse, mother, wife and my best friend who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer at just 41. Over the past three years, our team has raised over $100,000 to support Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), advancing research, patient support, and early detection. This year, we’re continuing that momentum — and thanks to everyone who participated in my Super Bowl squares (and matching donations), I personally have already raised over $3,000. Pancreatic cancer has a 5-year survival rate of just 13% — a statistic that is simply not okay and must change." Thank you, Christina, for taking steps to end #pancreaticcancer in honor of Lindsay. Join Christina and Team Love, Lindsay at #PanCANPurpleStride — the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer — next weekend! 👟💜 Take your first step today at 🔗 purplestride.org.

Join the movement at #PanCANPurpleStride on April 25 — the ultimate walk to end #pancreaticcancer. There’s still time to find an event near you at 🔗 purplestride.org, register for free and start fundraising today. Every step and every dollar raised brings us closer to better outcomes for patients and families. Let’s make an impact together — we can't wait to see you there! 👟💜

When Thad B.’s mom, Diane, passed away from #pancreaticcancer, he looked for ways to honor her. When he learned about PanCAN and #PanCANPurpleStride, he found a way to do just that. On Saturday, April 25, Thad will be taking steps to end pancreatic cancer at PurpleStride Central Florida, his 16th time participating in PanCAN’s biggest community event of the year. He has raised more than $50,000 to people like his mom since his first event. 👟💜 But before PurpleStride next week, Thad is getting creative with his PurpleStride fundraising. Tomorrow, Saturday 18, Thad will be live streaming from Disney World, doing a marathon ride of the PeopleMover, Diane’s favorite attraction at the theme park. 🏰 Thad shares, "Mom grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, and lived there for most of her life. She raised three children, along with our dad, and always made her children the most important thing in her life. She loved Disney and Disney World. Our family vacation every July was almost always to Walt Disney World. She scrimped and saved all year so we could have that magical trip each year! She eventually moved to The Villages in Florida and was able to spend her last few years living in a place she loved, close to Walt Disney World. I met some great people at the PurpleStride events in Iowa before I moved to Florida, and that sense of community helped bring me and my sister back each year. I think that seeing the progress that was being made by the charity each year convinced me that we were working with the right organization, so I love raising money every year for the cause! I've seen the five-year survival rate more than double since my mom died and seeing that rate go up keeps me motivated. It needs to be much higher! I think one of the most helpful things was finding other people who had gone through the process of losing a loved one to this terrible disease. The sense of community makes you feel like you're not alone. It's always encouraging to see the huge crowds at PurpleStride, seeing the community come together for a common cause." Read more of Thad's story and learn how you can watch his livestream this Saturday, April 18, from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, on the Theme Park Giant YouTube channel at 🔗 pcan.at/hrrfmxvw.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center offers the latest medical, radiation and surgical oncology treatments, as well as supportive services that help patients and their families navigate the physical, emotional and logistical aspects of cancer care. Their expert surgical team is among the nation’s most experienced, having performed more than 1,000 robotic #Whipple procedures to date. UPMC Hillman’s engagement with PanCAN grew naturally through caring for patients with #pancreaticcancer. 💜 Alessandro Paniccia, MD, surgical oncologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, shares, “As a PanCAN PurpleStride Premier Sponsor, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s team is reinforcing our commitment to the pancreatic cancer community beyond the operating room. As we supported individuals and families navigating diagnosis and treatment, we came to appreciate the vital role PanCAN plays in patient education, advocacy and research funding. PanCAN’s resources have been invaluable to many of the patients we serve, making partnership a natural extension of our clinical mission. Participating together as a team is always meaningful, but the most memorable aspect is the atmosphere of hope. PurpleStride highlights the progress being made and the collective determination to improve outcomes. Being part of that momentum is incredibly inspiring. We are thrilled to be a part of the incredible community at PurpleStride Pittsburgh.” Join us in thanking UPMC Hillman Cancer Center for their generous support of #PanCANPurpleStride Pittsburgh! 👏👟 There’s still time to register for PanCAN PurpleStride and take steps with us (and the whole country) on April 25. Find your event at 🔗 purplestride.org or join PurpleStride Your Way and stride from wherever you are!

A world where all patients with #pancreaticcancer thrive starts with YOU! 💜 Your #PanCANPurpleStride participation and fundraising keep PanCAN's vital programs available so patients and their families don't have to navigate this journey on their own. Striders, thank you for making real progress possible! 👟 Join the movement today at 🔗 purplestride.org!

We’re grateful to @People for highlighting the story of Rose B., a #PanCANvolunteer and #pancreaticcancer survivor, ahead of #PanCANPurpleStride. 💜👟 people.com/woman-survives…

Dr. Anna Berkenblit, PanCAN’s Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, shares, "Blood-based tests are beginning to be incorporated into strategies for early detection of pancreatic cancer, particularly in surveillance clinics for people at high risk. These minimally invasive tests are intended to identify potential signals of cancer before symptoms arise. While this is still evolving, blood-based screening represents one of the most promising opportunities for progress, particularly for pancreatic cancer, where early detection is elusive, with fewer than 20% of pancreatic cancers diagnosed early enough for surgery. These blood tests work by analyzing biomarkers in the bloodstream, primarily circulating tumor DNA and proteins shed by cancer cells. By detecting these signals, clinicians may be able to identify cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage, leading to better outcomes. Blood tests such as ClearNote Health’s Avantect® and Immunovia’s PancreaSureTM represent the next generation of targeted screening tools. They measure biomarkers associated with pancreatic cancer. By focusing on high-risk individuals, such as those with a family history of pancreatic cancer, genetic predisposition or new-onset diabetes, applying these tests aims to identify the disease when it is most treatable. Beyond single cancer blood tests, multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests are expanding the field with the goal of detecting multiple cancer types from a single blood draw. Blood tests such as GRAIL’s Galleri®, Exact Sciences’ Cancerguard®, and 20/20 BioLabs’ OneTestTM for Cancer analyze patterns in tumor DNA seeking to identify the presence of up to 50 cancer types. This is particularly promising for cancers that lack early screening options, including pancreatic cancer. While all these tests are commercially available to the public, they all require a healthcare provider to order, prescribe or authorize it. It is important to also recognize that there are limitations. Blood-based tests may miss some cancers or result in false positives (leading to additional potentially invasive tests that show no cancer), and the tests are not diagnostic on their own. Because we still have a lot to learn about the best use of these tests, they are not covered by insurance. Recent large-scale studies, including the NHS-Galleri trial, suggest that while MCED tests can shift diagnosis toward earlier stages, demonstrating a clear reduction in late-stage disease and improving survival will require continued study. We applaud companies that are doing large studies to understand the benefit of these tests in relevant populations. Looking ahead, we will continue to see further development in blood-based screening strategies. Though not yet incorporated into standard clinical protocols, as more evidence is gathered and tests’ abilities to correctly identify signals showing the presence of cancer improve, there can be potential for use among high-risk groups to determine which patients might benefit from further workup, including imaging, even if they have no symptoms. Research is also ongoing that focuses on the integration of AI with finding blood-based clues or patterns that may signify the early presence of cancer. Bottom line is that blood-based cancer detection is not a replacement for other established screening but instead is an important step towards personalized screening strategies and proactive approaches." Read more in this month's Research Spotlight from Dr. Berkenblit at 🔗 pcan.at/ph8h9g82.

We’re on our way to $25 million in dedicated #pancreaticcancer research funding! The House Dear Colleague letter showed strong bipartisan support for record-breaking funding for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP) at the Department of Defense — now it’s time for the Senate to do the same. 💜 Contact your senators now and urge them to sign their names in support of renewed and continued funding for PCARP at 🔗 pcan.at/tsygs5.

We’re saddened to acknowledge the passing of Phil Garner, a three-time MLB All-Star and World Series champion, who died on April 11 at age 76 following a #pancreaticcancer diagnosis. Garner’s family shared that he faced the disease for more than two years. His passing is a powerful reminder of the devastating impact of pancreatic cancer — and the urgent need for earlier detection, better treatments and continued research. Known for his grit on the field and leadership throughout his career, Garner’s legacy in the baseball community will not be forgotten. We extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones and all who admired him. ⚾️ In 2026, an estimated 67,530 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and 52,740 are expected to die from the disease. PanCAN remains deeply committed to changing outcomes for patients and accelerating progress against this disease. 💜 📷: Yahoo! Sports, Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle

Only 10 DAYS away! We’re proud to support @PanCAN and their work to advance research and help patients & families. Join us or donate today: secure.pancan.org/site/TR/Purple… #PurpleStride #PanCAN #PancreaticCancer

As of 9:15 a.m. PT, the PanCAN PurpleStride matching gift challenge hit $100,000! Thanks to you, we’re changing the story of pancreatic cancer. If you received donations or self-donated between 9 a.m. PT and 9:15 a.m. PT, your Personal or Team Fundraising Page will reflect the matched gifts, appearing as The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation in memory of Daniel J. Kobasic by 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday, April 22. 👟💜

Today, you can have your #PanCANPurpleStride gifts DOUBLED! ❎2️⃣ Thanks to a generous $100,000 matching gift from the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation in memory of Daniel J. Kobasic, the PurpleStride donations you receive starting today at 9 a.m. PT will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $250 per donation until the match runs out — which it will, and fast! Every dollar you receive for PurpleStride — matched or not — changes the story of the disease for patients and their families. Together, progress is possible and we couldn’t be more thankful. 💜

What an amazing moment for the #pancreaticcancer scientific/clinical community, and so much hope for patients today and in the future. This wouldn't be possible without all the research done in labs/clinics for the past several decades, much of it supported by @PanCAN 💜

@PanCANMichigan offers its deepest condolences on the passing of former @tigers manager Phil Garner. A 3x All-Star and World Series champ, "Scrap Iron" left an indelible mark on baseball through his grit and leadership. Our thoughts are with his family freep.com/story/sports/m…

Huge huge news! Excited to see the full data but doubling in OS in pre-treated PDAC, HR 0.40 is unprecedented to say the least. While press-releases aren’t meant to be prematurely celebrated- we know the wave of KRAS inhibitors is coming, is here to stay and will change the face of pancreatic cancer. What a great way to start the week! #PancreaticCancer @PanCAN

Go Michigan!

In this month's @PanCAN Research Spotlight, I look at the latest in early detection blood tests for #pancreaticcancer. 🔬 pancan.org/news/research-…

Rita W. had a way of bringing people together. She built a “troop” of family and friends who showed up for one another, and her, through every high and low of her journey with #pancreaticcancer. She reminded everyone around her to find joy where you can, speak your mind and never miss a moment that matters. 💜 PanCAN and #PanCANPurpleStride were especially close to Rita’s heart. With her family and friends, they started the team Weinstein Warriors four years ago. They are currently the number one PurpleStride 2026 fundraising team in the nation, raising more than $155,000 so far to help patients and families get the support they need. Sadly, Rita passed away earlier this year, but her legacy lives on. Rita’s daughters, Marcy, Marla and Marni, share, "We were proud to walk with our mom for the past three years, and she was inspired by walking with others who were fighting as she was, by the support of the survivors and by the friendship of the families who were honoring their loved ones. Our fundraising efforts were such a major success because everyone loved our mom and wanted to be a part of The Weinstein Warriors. We sent emails and posted on social media, but the real success was because of who she was and because our parents together fought this battle and everyone also loves our dad — one of the best ways to honor either of them was with a donation to fight this insidious disease. TOGETHER we can — hopefully — end pancreatic cancer." Read more from the Weinstein Warriors at 🔗 pcan.at/vu41xl3s. There’s still time to register for PanCAN PurpleStride and take steps with us (and the whole country) on April 25! Find your event at 🔗 purplestride.org or join PurpleStride Your Way and stride from wherever you are! 👟

Shop, save and give back to PanCAN with Minted this graduation season. 🎓 Now through April 26 use code FUNDRAISEPANCAN for 20% off graduation announcements and gifts at 🔗 Minted.com. With every purchase, 10% of your order — plus an additional $10 — will be donated to support PanCAN’s vital programs, so no one has to navigate this journey alone. 💜