Franklin County, News, Russellville
 By  Alison James Published 
9:30 am Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Mayoral proclamation raises awareness of pancreatic cancer

Photo by Alison James Laura McDuffa, Kathryn Bragwell, Debbie King and Vickie Bragwell gather around Russellville Mayor David Grissom as he signs a proclamation designation Nov. 17, 2016, World Pancreatic Cancer Day in the City of Russellville.

Photo by Alison James
Laura McDuffa, Kathryn Bragwell, Debbie King and Vickie Bragwell gather around Russellville Mayor David Grissom as he signs a proclamation designation Nov. 17, 2016, World Pancreatic Cancer Day in the City of Russellville.

Tomorrow has been designated as World Pancreatic Cancer Day in the City of Russellville, and a few local women were the driving force behind the proclamation.

According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, in 2016 there will be approximately 53,070 people in the U.S. diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; of this number, almost 42,000 will die. Seventy-on percent will die within the first year after diagnosis.

Dealing with a loved one’s death caused by this disease is what spurred Debbie King and Vickie Bragwell to reach out in support of one another and to get involved in spreading awareness of pancreatic cancer.

King’s husband Mark was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer Jan. 17, 2014. Until the week preceding the diagnosis, Debbie said, he had no symptoms except weight loss. Mark underwent surgery and chemotherapy over the next six months. “He did well until late August 2014, when a scan showed an enlarged bile duct and he was sent for a procedure to determine the problem,” Debbie said. In the emergency surgery that followed, it was discovered the cancer had spread. Mark King passed away Oct. 27, 2014 – just eight months after being diagnosed.

Eddie Bragwell lost his life to pancreatic cancer even more quickly. Wife Vickie said the only symptom was a knot that came up on her husband’s neck around Thanksgiving 2012. He was treated with an antibiotic, but his condition worsened until finally bone cancer was considered as a diagnosis. He deteriorated quickly after a choking incident sent him to the ER; after only one week of radiation, Eddie passed away Dec. 21, 2012

The exact causes of pancreatic cancer, Debbie explained, are not yet well understood. Certain risk factors, however, have been identified: smoking, family history of pancreatic or other cancers, diabetes and diet high in consumption of red or processed meats.

Symptoms can include abdomen or back pain, loss of appetite, jaundice, weight loss, nausea, changes in stool or recent onset diabetes.

Just this year, according to the PCAN, pancreatic cancer moved from the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. to the third, surpassing breast cancer. It is the only major cancer with a five-year relative survival rate in the single digits, at 8 percent. The incidence of this aggressive cancer is only increasing, and treatment options remain relatively limited both in terms of variety and successfulness.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025