Pancreatic Cancer

Risk Factors

The presence of a risk factor does not necessarily mean that an individual will develop cancer, nor does the absence of risk factors mean that an individual will not develop cancer. Majority of the people with risk factors do not develop pancreatic cancer. Cancer is a multifactorial disease and mere presence or absence of risk factors does not form a basis for developing cancer. By avoiding certain habits and adopting a healthy lifestyle, the chances of developing cancer can be lowered.

Some of the commonly known risk factors for pancreatic cancer are -

• Age: The risk of developing pancreatic cancer is usually low before the age of 40 with most people being diagnosed between their sixties and eighties.⁵
• Smoking: Cigarette smoking is one of the strongest risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer with the incidence being twice more as compared to non-smokers. Cigarette smoke contains a large number of carcinogens.
• Diet: Diets high in meat, cholesterol, fried foods and nitrosamines may increase the risk, while diets high in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. Recent research has suggested obesity and physical inactivity as additional risk factors.
• Gender: Pancreatic cancer occurs more commonly in men than in women (1.5:1).Recent data however suggests that relative risk in women is approaching that seen in men, probably due to the increased use of tobacco by females.
• Race: African-Americans are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than Hispanics, Asian-Americans, or white Americans, and currently have the highest pancreatic cancer rates in the world.
• Genetics: Up to 10% of patients with pancreatic cancer have one or more first- or second-degree relatives with the disease. Recognised inherited syndromes include hereditary pancreatitis, mutation of the BRCA2 gene, familial atypical multiple mole-melanoma syndrome and a p16 germline mutation, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, Peutz-Jeghers polyposis and ataxia-telangiectasia.
• Environmental factors: Environmental factors substantially increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Occupational exposure to carcinogens (e.g. asbestos, pesticides, dyes and petrochemicals) has been associated with pancreatic cancers. The incidence risk due to industrial chemical exposure is 3 to 5 fold more.
• Chronic pancreatitis: Long-term inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) has been linked to cancer of the pancreas. Hereditary pancreatitis may have a higher lifetime risk for developing pancreatic cancer.
• Diabetes: Diabetes has also been linked to pancreatic cancer. Diabetes appears to be both a symptom of pancreatic cancer, and long-standing adult-onset diabetes may also increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
• Peptic ulcer surgery: Patients who have had a portion of their stomach removed for some ailment (i.e. partial gastrectomy) appear to have an increased risk for developing pancreatic cancer.