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Luciano Pavarotti Dies of Pancreatic Cancer

Luciano Pavarotti, 71, has died at home in Modena, Italy after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Pavarotti's operatic career lasted for more than four decades after his debut as Rodolfo in Puccini's "La Boheme" in Modena on April 29, 1961. His farewell appearance in opera was at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on March 13, 2004, his 383d performance in that venue.

Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of any other cancer. Out of 32,180 new diagnoses per year in the United States, there are 31,800 deaths. This is in large part because the disease shows very few early symptoms and it is usually only discovered once it has metastasized.

Other celebrities who have died of pancreatic cancer include Michael Landon, Rex Harrison, Syd Barrett, Count Basie, Mickey Spillane, Dizzy Gillespie, Donna Reed, and Marcello Mastroianni.

A new vaccine against pancreatic cancer is being developed and is currently being tested in human subjects with promising early results.

Opera star Luciano Pavarotti dies
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

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