Thanks to our friends over at Margamania, we were sent a link to a thoughtful letter that Dana wrote (I’m thinking it was maybe this week, somebody please correct me if I’m wrong.) about her father and his battle with pancreatic cancer, and how she’s continuing to support finding a cure for the cause and raising awareness about it.

Here’s a snippet, and you can read the full letter at PanCan.org

Dear friend –
As an actor, I’ve played everything from a wartime nurse to a desperate housewife. But one of the most meaningful roles of my life has nothing to do with acting. It’s my role as the daughter of the late Jack Delany.

My dad was a man of many interests- business, skiing, architecture, dancing and silly jokes. But most of all, movies- my best memories are of sitting in the theater next to my dad. I am an actor because of my father.

Like too many other people, my father was gone way too soon. He was only 56 when he died of pancreatic cancer on March 18th, 1981. I was 25 when I lost the most favorite man of my life. I did what he would want me to do—I studied hard, followed my dream to be an actor, and have honored his memory every day since.

Last year, when I saw Patrick Swayze speak so eloquently at the ground breaking Stand Up to Cancer event about his heroic battle against pancreatic cancer, I saw my father. They were the same age. When my dad was diagnosed 29 years ago, he was given only 3 months to live because there were few effective treatments available. How is it possible that there are still no early detection methods or diagnostic tests? How is it possible that successful treatment is still very limited for this devastating form of cancer?

Patrick reminded me that we haven’t made enough progress on finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. Unlike so many of the other leading cancer killers—breast, colon or prostate— we have made very few medical advances that could have led to early detection methods, improved treatments and better odds of survival. That’s because pancreatic cancer is not only the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., but also the most overlooked and ignored disease of the top five leading cancer killers.

We haven’t made enough progress because people don’t often think about pancreatic cancer until it happens to them, a friend, a high-profile person, or a loved one. We need more people to know about pancreatic cancer, so we can fight it and end it. That starts with all of us speaking out, advocating for more research, and doing whatever we can to provide real hope to patients and their families.

That’s where you and I can make a difference. November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. I’ve joined with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help people know about pancreatic cancer, learn how to fight it and advocate for the research that we need to end it. This organization represents an incredible community of people that includes: survivors, caregivers, researchers, advocates and volunteers. Many people know the power that one unified voice can make. We can all make significant progress together, by raising awareness and inspiring more national support.

You can also read the rest of the letter by clicking below, but it felt better for me to read it on the pancan website. I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

Last month, I was thrilled to stand in a room with supporters of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and talk about my dad. As I looked around the room, I knew he would be happy that I was fighting together with you to end this disease. In fact, I can see his big grin as I write this.

We can fight it and we can win. The Pancreatic Action Cancer Network has built a special website called Know it. Fight It. End it. It gives people like you and me the tools we need to help others learn more about pancreatic cancer and raise awareness. It’s very simple and easy to participate.

Please join me during National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. Go to the website and click on the special “Raise Awareness and Take Action” tab. Learn more about what we can do together to know it, fight it and end it.

Cures don’t create themselves. We need to work together to make this happen. Now is the time to start—and we won’t quit until there are early screenings, effective treatments and breakthrough medical advancements for pancreatic cancer.

This Thanksgiving week, let’s give thanks for our health and for those we love and for those who have loved us. Let’s give thanks for the power each and every one of us has to make a difference in the lives of others. And, if you are part of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, know that I am sincerely grateful for your efforts.

Thank you for letting me share my story and continue to honor my father,

Dana Delany
Daughter of Jack Delany
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Supporter