I am running and getting generally muddy this year in memory of my beautiful friend Vicky Wakefield who passed away at the age of 29 from Pancreatic Cancer. Due to the difficulties in diagnosing this disease Vicky was never given a chance to survive and died just 7 weeks after diagnosis. I miss her face everyday.

Here are the stats for Pancreatic Cancer...Sadly, pancreatic cancer has a very poor outlook overall. Of all adults with pancreatic cancer, about 19 in every 100 (19%) live for at least 1 year after they are diagnosed. Only about 4 out of every 100 people diagnosed (4%) live for at least 5 years. And only 3 out of every 100 (3%) lives for at least 10 years.

One reason for the poor outlook of pancreatic cancer is that it is often diagnosed late. By the time someone has symptoms, goes to their doctor and is diagnosed, the disease is very often quite advanced. Only about 10 to 20 out of every 100 people (10 to 20%) can have surgery, which gives the best chance of cure for this type of cancer.

Unfortunately most people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are told that they may have less than a year to live. But specialists working in leading cancer centres throughout the world, often report slightly better statistics than this based on clinical trials that they are carrying out. But we still need more research and clinical trials before the outlook for people with this type of cancer improves.

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Sponsor me now, and help me show cancer that hell hath no fury like a woman in pink.