[February 07, 2017]

Another Legendary Actor is Lost to Pancreatic Cancer

Multiple news sources report that Richard Hatch, best known for playing Captain Apollo on the original "Battlestar Galactica" TV series, died today from pancreatic cancer.

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Richard Hatch died from pancreatic cancer today, Feb. 7, 2017. This image is assumed to be in public domain. If you are the owner of an image(s) used in this release and believe its use on this site is in violation of any copyright law, please contact [email protected]. (Photo: Business Wire)

Hatch's death comes less than two weeks after fellow sci-fi legend John Hurt died of the same disease.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest five-year survival rate of any major cancer, at only 9 percent. In 2017, an estimated 53,670 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States, and approximately 43,090 will die from it.

"We continue to lose prominent people to this disease who have shaped our lives and culture," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). "We must bring more awareness to pancreatic cancer by continuing to amplify the national conversation, and we must raise more funds in order to see a scientific breakthrough that changes the course of this deadly disease."

Hatch joins a growing list of other actors, musicians and notable public figures who've succumbed to pancreatic cancer, including Alan Rickman and Patrick Swayze.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has an urgent goal to improve outcomes for patients battling the disease today and double survival by 2020. This work is supported by critical initiatives, including Precision Promise, Know Your Tumor and the Patient Registry.

Support the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's urgent goal to double survival by 2020. Follow the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is the global leader accelerating the pace of research progress for one of the world's deadliest cancers. With an urgent mission to improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients and double survival by 2020, the organization, founded in 1999, executes a bold and comprehensive strategy to Wage Hope through research, patient services, advocacy and community engagement. The organization's visionary goals, world-class programs and services, extensive grassroots network, patient-focused outcomes and advisory board of scientific and medical leaders, provide the critical backdrop to help pancreatic cancer patients today and create transformational change for all patients in the future.

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