Friday is World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day

WTXF - Friday marks the second observance of World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day. The day was established in 2014 by the charity known as Pancreatic Cancer Action.

Pancreatic Cancer Action estimates that 280,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed each year, and pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with survival rates of between 3 and 6 percent. The purpose of World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day is to spread "more awareness and understanding about the illness among the public, medical community and government."

Michael Landon, the beloved actor from Bonanza, Little House on the Prarie and Highway to Heaven, died of pancreatic cancer in 1991 at the age of 54.

Fox 29 news anchor Lucy Noland grew up watching and loving Landon on Bonanza re-runs, and had a "mad crush" on Little Joe Cartwright, Landon's character on that show. Lucy first became aware of pancreatic cancer when Landon became ill and passed. This week, Lucy and Iain Page wore purple on the air in observance of World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day. Read Lucy's thoughts here.