Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:

• Age - Most pancreatic cancer occurs in people over the age of 45.
• Smoking - Heavy cigarette smokers are two or three times more likely than non-smokers to develop pancreatic cancer.
• Obesity and physical inactivity - Pancreatic cancer is more common in people who are very overweight and in people who don't get much physical activity.
• Diabetes - Pancreatic cancer occurs more often in people who have diabetes than in those who do not.
• Gender - More men than women are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• Race - African Americans are more likely than Asians, Hispanics, or Caucasians to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• Family history - The risk for developing pancreatic cancer is higher if a person's mother, father, or a sibling had the disease.
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Exposure - Occupational pesticides, dyes and chemicals used in the metal industry may increase the risk.
• Some genetic syndromes - This includes the genetic syndrome linked to hereditary pancreatitis.
• Chronic pancreatitis - this condition of the pancreas has been linked with increased risk for pancreatic cancer.