Awareness cancer pancreatic

Women working to raise awareness; Pancreatic cancer brought Kathy

This was the fourth year that Kathy Hlebichuk used her workplace at LaPetite Hair Studio in Coeur d'Alene to turn heads. November was Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and the color of the season was purple. Hlebichuk distributed purple ribbons at the salon, along with fact-filled brochures about a disease that is almost always fatal.

The 99 percent mortality rate for pancreatic cancer is the highest of any cancer. It took the life of Hlebichuk's 55-year-old sister four years ago. Since that time, the cosmetologist has dealt with her loss by reaching out to others. She is the Team Hope coordinator for Northern Idaho for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. PanCAN is an advocacy group founded in 1999 by family members of individuals who have died of pancreatic cancer. This grassroots effort strives to raise funds for research and educate the public about the disease.

This year was special for Hlebichuk because she had a helper to inspire her throughout the November campaign.

"It's so awesome to be able to say we have a survivor," she said.

Hlebichuk became acquainted with Debbie Angle, a Wallace bank employee, when the 49-year-old mother of five and grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2003.

Hlebichuk's brother-in-law works in the banking business as does one of Hlebichuk's hair salon customers and both told her about Angle's diagnosis. After the initial phone contact, the two women became friends. As Angle endured chemotherapy, radiation, and a pessimistic prognosis, Hlebichuk provided information on PanCAN and ongoing support.

Angle took several trips to Seattle where she was told repeatedly that her cancer was in a location too risky for surgery. After a year of treatments designed to shrink the tumor, she was finally given the go-ahead for a Whipple procedure, a complex surgery that removed 90 percent of Angle's pancreas, her gallbladder, and part of her stomach and small intestine.

It was a difficult day for Angle, but made easier by support she received from her community. While she was having surgery, much of the town of Wallace burned purple candles in her name.

The town also came together with a fund-raiser to help Angle cope with the expenses of travel and illness. More than 700 people turned out for a dinner, auction and raffle, which included a car from Dave Smith Motors in Kellogg.

"After the benefit, I said, 'I have to live,'," Angle said. "Even if you can't return it, you can by helping someone else."

This November Angle felt well enough to begin giving back. She took direction from Hlebichuk and placed donation collection boxes throughout the Silver Valley. She inspired a supermarket to program cash registers to accept donations and encouraged co-workers to give to the United Way. All funds were forwarded to PanCAN. Angle signed on as survivor committee chairperson for the Silver Valley's first Relay for Life in August.

"When you find out you have a disease like this, it's devastating," she said. "I'd like to be there for anybody who needs help."

Since just four percent of pancreatic cancer patients live beyond five years, having a survivor in her corner was a bonus for Hlebichuk. In her sister's case, by the time surgery was offered it was too late. The cancer had already spread. Seeing Angle doing so well gave Hlebichuk inspiration to continue raising funds and offering hope to others. PanCAN funds research for a cure, education and support.

Besides organizing raffle baskets filled with hair products, Hlebichuk spent a few days in November in Beverly Hills where PanCAN was holding its seventh annual fund-raiser and symposium called "An Evening With the Stars." Hlebichuk sold enough BMW raffle tickets to enter the gala event for free, plus have one extra ticket. She asked Post Falls child prodigy artist Akiane Kramarik to donate a painting, which brought in $1,500 at the auction. Stars including Kelsey Grammar, comedian Jay Mohr and "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Doris Roberts have attended the event, but that's not what dazzled Hlebichuk. It was the camaraderie among the people attending that left an impression.

"It's like a family," she said. "Unfortunately, we all have something in common."

Hlebichuk met a man from Michigan who survived pancreatic cancer for one year and four months. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is less than six months. He came from Michigan to see what he could learn at the symposium, but had no plans to go to the star- studded gala. Survivors get in for free, but his wife didn't have a ticket. Hlebichuk gave the wife her extra ticket worth $300 and chipped in to rent the husband's tux.

A record number of survivors attended the event this year - more than 60. More than $600,000 was raised. This is the third year Hlebichuk made the trip to the event.

"I went there thinking that this is going to be cool to see the stars, but now I can't remember them," she said. "The survivors are the stars in our eyes."

SIDEBAR:COOKBOOK FUND-RAISER In the past four years, more than 700 cookbooks have been sold containing Hlebichuk's family recipes. Stop by LaPetite Hair Salon to purchase "Two Sisters Cookbook" for $12. Proceeds go toward cancer research, education and support. To learn more about PanCAN visit www.pancan.org.