Luciano Pavarotti, possibly the most famous classical singer on earth, received a final sendoff this past weekend in his hometown of Modena, Italy. Pavarotti died last week of pancreatic cancer. More than 100,000 people filed through the cathedral and plaza, more than 700 guests attended the funeral mass and millions watched the live broadcast on television.

Pavarotti underwent surgery for a malignant pancreatic mass in July 2006. A month later, after his surgery, Pavarotti told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, "I was a fortunate and happy man. After that, this blow arrived. And now I am paying the penalty for this fortune and happiness."

One could not be surprised that Pavarotti felt this way. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, with a five-year survival rate here in the U.S. of less than 5%, although surgery can improve survival greatly. Pancreatic cancer is also one of the most underfunded research areas in cancer. For more information about what you can do to increase funding for pancreatic cancer research and raise awareness of this deadly disease, please see PanCAN's action page.

Italian opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2006 and recently hospitalized with a fever, died at his native Modena home on Thursday. With him were his wife Nicoletta, four daughters, and his sister. He was 71.
Friends and family had hoped for a miracle for Pavarotti. Sadly, this was not possible. Though to have survived pancreatic cancer for more than one year is quite amazing. The disease is deadly in most cases and most survive for only months.

Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just before he was set to resume a farewell tour in July 2006. Instead, he headed for surgery. He never again performed publicly.

Italian opera great Luciano Pavarotti, in the midst of a battle with pancreatic cancer that began in July 2006, was released from the hospital Saturday after two weeks of hospitalization due to a high fever.

The 71-year-old Pavarotti is now at home where he will be closely monitored by doctors.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, often detected in its latest stages and affording patients only months of survival. Pavarotti has survived the disease for more than one year.

Italian opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti, who had surgery for pancreatic cancer in July 2006 and then was hospitalized this August 8 due to a high fever, will stay in the hospital for further testing related to his disease.

Pavarotti, 71, is now fever-free. Still, he will remain hospitalized so his cancer can be fully investigated.

At the time of Pavarotti's surgery, he had been planning to resume his farewell tour. But he has made no public appearances since this time.

Italian opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti, hospitalized on Wednesday with a fever, is doing better and should be discharged within the next few days, according to his wife, Nicoletta Mantovani.

The 71-year-old tenor underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer one year ago and has since endured at least five rounds of chemotherapy. Although not confirmed, some sources say Pavarotti has pneumonia.

Luciano Pavarotti, famed tenor, continues to live with pancreatic cancer and is currently recording a new collection of classical religious music. He also continues to teach a select group of students every day according to an article from the AP.

Pavarotti underwent surgery in 2006 to remove a cancerous mass.

Recently, an Italian magazine quoted one of Pavarotti's daughters, Guiliana, as saying her father "knows he will die soon." She insists that her words were taken out of context. Pavarotti apparently took the mixup in stride and laughed about it.

According to Corriere della Sera newspaper, Pavarotti responded further, "You want to hear from me -- whether I'm dead? I'm getting better, I'm on the mend."

Best wishes to Pavarotti and his family as he continues to live and to create, in spite of pancreatic cancer.

Celebrities have a way of motivating the public to take action. They help dictate fashion trends and set standards for mostly unattainable body shapes and sizes. They add hype to political views and philosophies and make influential statements about all sorts of issues. Like breast cancer. With its backing from celebrities like Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow and Kylie Minogue -- all breast cancer survivors who are speaking out and raising awareness -- breast cancer has burst onto the media scene and is receiving powerful, positive attention. Kylie Minogue's public diagnosis spurred so many women into getting their breasts checked that the Medical Journal of Australia reports a 40 percent increase in bookings for mammograms. But sometimes, celebrity diagnoses don't elicit a response at all.

Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month -- yet the announcement barely registered on the public's radar. Perhaps he does not command the same kind of reaction as pop singers do. Or perhaps it's the type of cancer that keeps his public battle on the sidelines.

The breasts are a visible icon of femininity -- out in the forefront for all to see. And so the issue of breast cancer is in the forefront. The pancreas, on the other hand, are hidden behind the stomach and are out of sight -- and out of mind. When Apple chief executive Steve Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, he didn't even know where to find his pancreas. And so this organ does not attract much fanfare -- and therefore does not attract the funding and research that breast cancer does. Which is sad because this cancer is not just hidden inside the body. It's also a hidden killer. It can't be felt like breasts can be felt. And there is no easy way to detect it, like with mammogram and other imaging techniques. Often a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer -- the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Western societies -- comes with a death sentence. And more and more, breast cancer diagnoses come with promising expectations of survival.

We may not know as much as about pancreatic cancer as we do breast cancer. But there are some behaviors that may contribute to this deadly disease. So in the spirit of prevention, consider this:

• If nobody smoked, 25 percent of pancreatic cancer cases wouldn't happen.
• Alcohol consumption can increase the risk by 15 times.
• Some studies link high meat consumption and low vegetable consumption to incidences of pancreatic cancer.
• Folate, the B vitamin in green leafy vegetables, oranges, legumes, and whole grains seem to reduce the risk. But folate supplements don't seem to have the same healthy effect.

70 year old tenor Luciano Pavarotti underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer and is "recovering well" said his manager in a report today. He remains in a New York hospital not yet named. The mass was completely removed but all remaining 2006 concerts have been canceled as he starts treatments. Tour plans will resume in early 2007.

Pavarotti retired from opera two years ago, saying his weight problem and bad knee prevented him from moving comfortably around stages. But he kept up with his concert career. He first reached stardom in the U.S. in 1965 opposite Joan Sutherland in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor". He has performed over 350 times at the world famous Met along with hundreds of performances at Milan's Teatro all La Scala, London's Royal Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the San Francisco Opera, and at the Opera de Paris and 45 at the Vienna State Opera. Pavrotti was also part of The Three Tenors joining Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. The trio sang together for thirteen years.