Cancer of the pancreas is on the increase in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute, NCI. It currently ranks fourth in causes of cancer deaths in the U.S.
Pancreatic cancer arises in either of the two parts of the pancreas, namely the exocrine and endocrine portions. According to the National Institutes of Health, NIH, the actual cause of pancreatic cancer is unknown. A number of risk factors are associated with its development.
Age
The American Cancer Society, ACS, says that the risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age. The average age at diagnosis is 72 years, and about 90 percent of patients with pancreatic cancer are older than 55.
Tobacco Use
The ACS repoers that smokers are two to three times more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than non-smokers. Numerous cancer-causing agents in cigarette smoke contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer. Smokeless tobacco also increases the risk for pancreatic cancer.
Gender
Men are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women. According to the ACS, this may be due to the fact that more men smoke.
Family History
Pancreatic cancer appears to run in families. The American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASCO, says that the risk of pancreatic cancer is increased three-fold in first-degree relatives: father, mother or siblings. Some inherited genetic defects are behind a majority of the cases that run in families. The genetic link is not clearly defined in other cases.
Inherited genetic conditions listed by the ACS as risk factors in exocrine cancer of the pancreas are hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, familial melanoma, familial pancreatitis, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, HNPCC, Peutz-Jegher's syndrome and Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.
Those implicated in neuroendocrine cancers of the pancreas are neurofibromatosis and multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1.
Obesity and Diet
Vegetables and fruits appear to be protective. According to the ACS, diets high in fat, or consisting of a lot of red meat, pork and processed meats, confer a higher risk for pancreatic cancer.
Obesity and physical inactivity both increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Exercise is said to lower the risk of pancreatic cancer, according to the ACS.
Other Risk Factors
African Americans are more likely than whites to develop pancreatic cancer. According to the ACS, this could be linked to the higher prevalence of smoking and diabetes among African American men and obesity in African American women.
Liver disease is also implicated in the development of pancreatic cancer. Liver cirrhosis confers a higher risk for pancreatic cancer. According to the ASCO, hepatitis B is more common in people with pancreatic cancer.
Other risk factors include diabetes, and exposure to workplace chemicals like pesticides, benzene and petrochemicals. The ACS also indicates that coffee, heavy alcohol use and stomach infection by Helicobacter pylori are high-risk factors.
