Melissa Gilbert, known for her role in ”Little House on the Prairie,” is supporting efforts to combat pancreatic cancer in memory of her late co-star, Michael Landon. Landon passed away in 1991 after battling the disease. Gilbert witnessed his struggle firsthand and was deeply affected by the rapid and devastating effects of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with a five-year survival rate of only 13 percent. Detecting the disease early is challenging as symptoms typically appear when it has already advanced in the body.
Gilbert expressed her shock at how brutal pancreatic cancer can be, stating that until it personally affected her through Landon’s illness, she didn’t fully grasp its severity. She compared it to a tornado that strikes without warning and emphasized its low survival rate.
Landon was not the only person Gilbert knew who fought against this disease. Her friend Patrick Swayze, star of “Dirty Dancing,” also succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2009 at age 57. Witnessing both men’s strength and athleticism being overcome by this illness was devastating for Gilbert.
In collaboration with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), Gilbert is using her lifestyle brand Modern Prairie to raise funds and awareness for research, federal funding advocacy, and support for patients and caregivers affected by pancreatic cancer.
To honor Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November, Gilbert will release a special capsule collection featuring purple-themed products such as bonnets for women and children, pocket squares, and a signature pie carrier—the official color representing pancreatic cancer awareness. All proceeds from this collection will go towards supporting PanCAN’s initiatives.
Gilbert emphasized that supporting organizations like PanCAN is crucial because she has personally lost loved ones to this disease. She believes that by coming together as a community—combining resources, compassion, and determination—we can work towards eradicating all forms of cancer.
Melissa Gilbert rose to fame through her role as Laura Ingalls on “Little House on the Prairie” from 1974 to 1983. She has also appeared in other television shows such as “Choices of the Heart” (1983) and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2012. In addition to her acting career, she married Timothy Busfield in 2013 and published her memoir titled “Back to The Prairie” in 2022.