House adopts Matzie resolution to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer
Rep. Robert F. Matzie October 29, 2026 | 9:48 AM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 29 – In advance of nationally recognized Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month this November, the Pennsylvania House adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution to raise awareness about the disease, which is expected to kill more than 52,000 people in the United States this year.
Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus, said he introduced H.R. 538 – designating November 2026 as “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania – to keep the focus on a disease that remains one of the most difficult forms of cancer to treat.
“Although pancreatic cancer isn’t one of the most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer, it’s the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., and it has the lowest overall 5-year survival rate – just 13% – among the major cancers,” Matzie said. “The issue is personal to me because my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was one of the lucky ones. Her cancer was caught early, and she went on to live for eight years. Most patients are not so lucky. Because the disease spreads quickly with few symptoms during the early stages, most cases are not diagnosed until they are too advanced for effective treatment.”
Matzie said that although the medical community has struggled to make inroads against the disease, there is some hope on the horizon.
“There have been some recent advances. A drug approved by the FDA in late August was shown to double survival rates compared to patients who received only standard chemotherapy, and there are clinical trials underway for therapeutic and preventive vaccines,” Matzie said. “But we still have a long way to go. Until we can turn the numbers around, the best thing people can do is to be alert to possible symptoms and be vigilant about reporting concerns to their doctors, because early detection is still the best weapon we have against the disease.”
Matzie said common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, which may cause yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine, itchy skin, and light-colored, greasy or floating stools; abdominal pain that spreads to the sides or back; sudden-onset diabetes or diabetes that becomes harder to manage; unintended weight loss and poor appetite; nausea and vomiting; weakness and fatigue; and unexplained blood clots.
Approximately 10% of pancreatic cancer cases are hereditary or linked to inherited genetic factors, while 90% are caused by acquired DNA mutations that occur during a person’s lifetime due to risk factors such as smoking, chronic pancreatitis, age, obesity, and poorly managed or long-term type 2 diabetes. Long-term exposure to certain chemicals—including benzene, pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbons and metalworking fluids – is also associated with an increased risk.
According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that more than 67,500 new cases of pancreatic cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2026 and that more than 52,500 people will die of the disease. The average age of diagnosis is 70.
On Aug. 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Rasonque (daraxonrasib), a RAS inhibitor for the most common form of pancreatic cancer. In a randomized clinical trial involving 500 adults with previously treated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the drug improved median overall survival to 13.2 months compared to 6.7 months for standard chemotherapy alone.
National organizations including the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the National Pancreas Foundation recognize November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month to keep the focus on public policy, research funding, patient services, public awareness and development new treatments and a cure.
The House adopted Matzie’s resolution by a vote of 202-1 on Oct. 21.