MONROE - This year, an estimated 44,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It's the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths, with 37,000 dying from the disease each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Of those, 760 will be in Wisconsin alone.

The United States House of Representatives passed the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act (H.R.733) Sept. 19. The bill will require the National Cancer Institute to create a long-term plan for pancreatic and other recalcitrant cancers that includes evaluating its current efforts in the disease and making recommendations on ways to accelerate progress and improve outcomes. It will require the NCI to focus on cancers that have low survival rates.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and Monroe Mayor Bill Ross and Green County Board Chairman Art Carter have signed proclamations to help raise awareness of the disease locally.

During November, purple ribbons will be handed out to businesses to further increase awareness. To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's advocacy efforts, visit www.knowitfightinendit.org or locally contact Jo Hawthorn for additional information.