MEDIA ADVISORY: Expert Available to Comment on Passing of Congressman Mark Takai (Hawaii)

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Jul 20, 2016, 06:02 ET

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., July 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Congressman Mark Takai (D-Hawaii) passed away at age 49 from pancreatic cancer, nine months after being diagnosed.

EXPERT AVAILABLE: Megan Gordon Don, vice president of government affairs and advocacy at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, is available for comment.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization is leading the way to increase survival for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative -- The Vision of Progress: Double Pancreatic Cancer Survival by 2020. Together, we can Wage Hope.

"We are saddened to learn that Congressman Mark Takai has passed from pancreatic cancer," said Megan Gordon Don, vice president of government affairs and advocacy at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. "It's unacceptable that the five year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 8 percent. This is why we put a stake in the ground and have committed to doubling survival by 2020. We will continue to champion for better treatments and better outcomes."

ABOUT PANCREATIC CANCER: More patients will die from pancreatic cancer than breast cancer this year. Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. and is forecast to surpass colorectal cancer as the second-leading cause of cancer-related death around 2020. The five-year survival rate is just 8 percent. Learn more about the disease.

ABOUT TAKAI: Rep. Takai was elected to the U.S. House Representatives in 2014 and represented the 1st District of Hawaii. Before being elected, Takai was a 20-year member of the Hawaii State House of Representatives. He also served as member of the Hawaii National Guard for 17 years and held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and worked as Preventative Medical Officer. Takai was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 and recently announced he would retire to focus on his cancer battle.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization is leading the way to increase survival for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative — The Vision of Progress: Double Pancreatic Cancer Survival by 2020. To continue to accelerate progress, a goal to raise $200 million by 2020 is also in place. Together, we can Wage Hope and rewrite the future of pancreatic cancer.

CONTACT:
Cara Martinez
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Direct: 310-562-7821
Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network