(RALEIGH) -- Pancreatic cancer kills more than a thousand people annually in North Carolina, and experts say early detection is key to survival. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network raises money for research and support for patients like Jim Hart, who now advocates for the organization.

Hart, who was diagnosed last year and is now cancer-free, says it's important to pay attention to warning signs and make sure your doctor does as well. "If you're experiencing any sort of gastrointestinal problem and you can't really identify the source, then that's something that you shouldn't take lightly," Hart said. "I was lucky that [the doctors] didn't dismiss a middle-aged overweight man with stomach problems as nothing important."

While the exact cause of pancreatic cancer is unknown, experts say risk factors can include smoking, obesity, and people with diets high in red and processed meats. Most people diagnosed with the cancer are over the age of 60, with a higher rate of men and African-Americans receiving the diagnosis.