• Age
The risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age. Most people who develop pancreatic cancer are older than 45; in fact, 90% are older than 55 and 70% are older than 65. However, adults of any age can be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• Alcohol
Chronic heavy alcohol use is a risk factor for chronic pancreatitis which is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. However, research evidence on a direct link between alcohol and risk of pancreatic cancer is mixed. There does not appear to be an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer from moderate alcohol consumption. However, some studies suggest that heavy drinking (more than 3 drinks a day) may lead to an increased risk of developing the disease.
• Allergies
Some research studies have found that having certain types of allergy including ones that affect the skin (such as eczema or hives), a reaction to insect bites, hay fever and respiratory allergies may reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The risk is further reduced with an increased number and severity of allergies. However there is no evidence that having asthma or allergies related to food or drugs lead to a reduction in risk.
• Bacteria
A common bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, also called H. pylori, causes inflammation and ulcers in the stomach and increases the risk of stomach cancer. H. pylori also increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, although the risk is not as high as the risk of developing stomach cancer.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) and Weight
A review of the evidence on weight and BMI (Body Mass index) suggests that a higher BMI and increased abdominal fatness increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The review found that there was a 10% increase in risk for a five point increase in BMI.
A UK study published in 2011 suggested that 12% (around 1000) of cases of pancreatic cancer were related to being overweight or obesity. (Overweight was classed as a BMI of over 25 and obesity as a BMI of over 30).
• Chemicals
Exposure to certain chemicals (such as pesticides, benzene, certain dyes, and petrochemicals) may increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
• Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term inflammation of the pancreas. This condition is linked with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer (especially in smokers), but most people with pancreatitis never develop pancreatic cancer. A small number of cases of chronic pancreatitis are due to an inherited gene mutation. People with this inherited (familial) form of pancreatitis have a high lifetime risk for developing pancreatic cancer.
• Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis develops when liver cells are damaged and are replaced by scar tissue. Most cirrhosis in the United State is caused by alcohol abuse. Other causes are viral hepatitis (see above), too much iron in the liver from a disease called hemochromatosis, and some other rare types of chronic liver disease.
• Coffee
Some older studies have suggested that drinking coffee might increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, but more recent studies have not confirmed this.
• Diabetes
Many studies have indicated that diabetes, especially when a person has had it for many years, does increase his or her risk of developing pancreatic cancer. In addition, suddenly developing diabetes later in adulthood can be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer. However, it is important to remember that not all people who have diabetes or who develop diabetes as adults develop pancreatic cancer.
• Diet
Some studies linked pancreatic cancer and diets that include a lot of red meat, pork, and processed meat (such as sausage and bacon). Others have found that diets high in fruits and vegetables may help reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. But not all studies have found such links, and the exact role of diet in relation to pancreatic cancer is still being studied. Risk Factors For Pancreatic Cancer
• Ethnicity
African Americans are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than whites. The reasons for this are not clear, but it may be due in part to having higher rates of other risk factors for pancreatic cancer, such as diabetes, smoking in men, and being overweight in women.
• Family History
Pancreatic cancer may run in the family, called familial pancreatic cancer, if two or more first-degree relatives (parents, brothers, sisters, children) are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Families with three or more close relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, cousins) diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and with one relative diagnosed before age 50 are also considered to have familial pancreatic cancer. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that the risk of developing pancreatic cancer is increased four to five times for a person with one first-degree relative with pancreatic cancer, six to seven times for a person with two first-degree relatives, and 32 times for a person with three first-degree relatives with the disease.
It is important to talk with your family members about your family’s history of pancreatic cancer. If you think you may have a family history of pancreatic cancer, talk with a genetic counselor before you have any genetic testing. Only genetic testing can determine if you have a genetic mutation and genetic counselors are trained to explain the risks and benefits of genetic testing. There are specific registries for families with inherited pancreatic cancer syndromes and a genetic counselor can help you learn more about these.
• Gastric (Stomach) Ulcer
Having a gastric ulcer increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Having surgery for the gastric ulcer further increases the risk to double that of the general population. This may be because bacteria which populate the stomach after the operation lead to the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines.
• Gender
Men are about 30% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women. This may be due, at least in part, to higher tobacco use in men, which raises pancreatic cancer risk (see above). The difference in pancreatic cancer risk was more pronounced in the past (when tobacco use was much more common among men than women), but the gap has closed in recent years.
• Hepatitis B Infection
Hepatitis viruses are viruses that infect the liver. One study has shown that a previous hepatitis B infection was twice as common in people with pancreatic cancer than in people without the cancer. More research is needed to learn more about this link.
• Heredity Pancreatitis
Hereditary pancreatitis is a rare type of pancreatitis which causes earlier onset pancreatitis, usually before the age of 30 years. About 40% of people with hereditary pancreatitis will develop pancreatic cancer by age 80, with smoking and diabetes thought to increase the risk.
• History of Cancer
People are at an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer within 10 years of a diagnosis of cancers of the pharynx, stomach, gallbladder, larynx, lung, cervix, corpus uteri, bladder, and eye and 10 years or later after a diagnosis of cancers of the stomach, colon, gallbladder, breast, cervix, placenta, corpus uteri, ovary, testis, bladder, kidney, and eye, as well as Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In some cases this may be because of the shared risk factor of smoking. In other cases there may be a genetic link or an effect from previous radiotherapy treatment.
• NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) (including Aspirin)
NSAIDs have been shown to have a beneficial effect in reducing the risk of some cancers, but the available research evidence does not show any association between NSAIDS and risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Physical Activity
Reviews of the available evidence suggest that occupational physical activity may have a protective effect and lower the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. However, no relationship has been found between recreational physical activity and pancreatic cancer.
• Physical Inactivity
Some research has suggested that lack of physical activity might increase pancreatic cancer risk. But not all studies have found this.
• Rare Inherited Conditions
Members of families with certain uncommon inherited conditions also have a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer, as well as other types of cancer; these include hereditary pancreatitis (see below), Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), familial malignant melanoma and pancreatic cancer (FAMM-PC), hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome, and Lynch syndrome. In addition, people who have Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) may have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Smoking
Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for pancreatic cancer. The risk of getting pancreatic cancer is about twice as high among smokers compared to those who have never smoked. Scientists think this may be due to cancer-causing chemicals in cigarette smoke that enter the blood and damage the pancreas. About 20% to 30% of exocrine pancreatic cancer cases are thought to be caused by cigarette smoking. Cigar and pipe smoking also increase risk, as does the use of smokeless tobacco products.
• Tooth or Gum Disease
Some research has suggested that tooth or gum disease can increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. It is not yet clear why it increases risk.
• Ulcerative Colitis and Chrohns Disease
People who are hospitalised for ulcerative colitis for the first time before the age of 25 have seven times the risk of developing pancreatic cancer as the general population. This risk reduces if people are first hospitalised at an older age. People with Crohn's disease have a 75% increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Risk Factors For Pancreatic Cancer