# Pancreatic Cancer Action welcomes Joanna David as Patron - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/01/09/pancreatic-cancer-action-welcomes-joanna-david-patron/ - Published: 2013-01-09T17:11:37+00:00 - Author: Howard Lake ![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/newswire/joanna-david.jpg)   Pancreatic Cancer Action is delighted to announce British actress, Joanna David as a new patron. Joanna is one of the UK’s most cherished actresses and has been a familiar face on our TV screens as well as in the theatre and in film for many years. Numerous television credits include ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ‘Rebecca’, ‘The Forsyte Saga’,‘ Inspector Morse’, ‘Midsomer Murders’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Rumpole of the Bailey’,‘ Dalziel and Pascoe’, ‘A Touch of Frost’ plus many more. ## Advertisement Joanna’s film credits include ‘One Plus One’, ‘The Soul Keeper’, ‘Secret Friends’,‘ Rogue Trader’ and ‘One of those Days’. Joanna is also a highly experienced broadcaster for BBC Radio and has also recorded many novels for audio cassette/CD. Joanna is married to actor Edward fox and her son Freddie Fox and daughter Emilia Fox are also well-known actors. Joanna said, “I am delighted to be joining Pancreatic Cancer Action as its patron. I first met Ali [Ali Stunt, Founder & CEO, Pancreatic Cancer Action] when I came to support a friend who was playing at a fundraising concert for the Charity. I was moved beyond words and was so impressed by what Ali said at the end of the concert about the need for earlier diagnosis and more funds for pancreatic cancer that I felt I had to do all that I could to help. Having a friend dying from pancreatic cancer at the time made what Ali said all the more powerful and I look forward to working with Ali and her team to help raise awareness and funds for this grim disease.” Commenting on behalf of Pancreatic Cancer Action, Founder and Chief Executive Ali Stunt said: “We at Pancreatic Cancer Action are thrilled that Joanna has accepted our invitation to join us as a patron. Joanna, along with some of her friends and colleagues, has supported us at various fundraising events this past year and we are delighted to have her on board. Joanna has personal experience of losing a friend to pancreatic cancer and her support and patronage will be of enormous benefit as we continue in our mission to make a difference to survival rates for pancreatic cancer.” Pancreatic Cancer Action is a national charity which aims to improve survival rates for the disease through awareness, information and increased funding. Simply, we want more people diagnosed in time for surgery – currently the only potential for a cure. ENDS **Notes to Editors:** Pancreatic cancer is very difficult to diagnose. However despite the grim statistics, many more people can survive pancreatic cancer but in order to do so they need to be diagnosed in time for surgery – currently the only potential for a cure. Those who are diagnosed in time have a chance of living beyond five years that is ten times greater than the overall average for the disease. Currently, 90% of people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed too late for potentially curative surgery, with the average life expectancy on diagnosis a mere three to six months. Relative survival to five years is only 3%. Classic pancreatic cancer symptoms are persistent or significant abdominal pain and/ or back pain, painless jaundice (yellow skin/eyes, dark urine), significant and unexplained weight loss. Other common symptoms are new onset diabetes not associated with weight gain, pain in the upper abdomen that typically radiates to the back, upper back pain, indigestion or abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite or nausea and vomiting, pain when eating and Steatorrhoea (fatty stools, often pale and smelly). Pancreatic cancer affects men and women equally and 40 per cent of patients are under the age of 69. While the causes of pancreatic cancer are not fully understood, approximately 25% of cases are attributable to cigarette smoking, 5-10% are hereditary and it is thought that obesity and diabetes are additional risk factors. Pancreatic Cancer Action has spokespeople available from the medical and research communities for interview or comment on all aspects of pancreatic cancer. We also have a number of patients willing to be case studies and/or give interviews. For further media information, please contact Ali Stunt T: 0303 040 1770 E: al*@****ct.org W: http://pancreaticcanceraction.org For more information on pancreatic cancer please visit www.pancreaticcanceraction. org ENDS   * **[50 Patrons of Variety to commit to give £10k each for three years](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/09/01/50-patrons-variety-commit-give-10k-three-years/)**( 1 September 2014) * **[GCHQ code breakers’ puzzle book to raise funds for mental health charity](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/10/16/gchq-code-breakers-puzzle-book-raise-funds-mental-health-charity/)**( 16 October 2016) * **[Duchess of Cornwall becomes patron of The Silver Line Helpline](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/07/17/duchess-cornwall-becomes-patron-silver-line-helpline/)**( 17 July 2017)