What is pancratic cancer?

Answer 1

Some research has shown that exposure to secondhand smoke may also increase pancreatic cancer risk. Studies in Scandinavia have shown that chewing snus (a type of smokeless tobacco) increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. Researchers think that up to 1 in 5 cases of pancreatic cancer in Swedish men may be due to smokeless tobacco. A large Cancer Research UK study looking at lifestyle factors found that nearly 1 in 3 pancreatic cancers (30%) may be linked to smoking. A large British study showed that people smoking up to 25 cigarettes a day have roughly double the risk of someone who has never smoked, while people smoking more than 25 cigarettes a day have three times the risk. Stopping smoking reduces the risk. A large European study showed that 5 years after stopping smoking, pancreatic cancer risk is the same as for a person who has never smoked.

Long term inflammation of the pancreasLong term inflammation of the pancreas is called chronic pancreatitis. This condition increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, although overall it isn't responsible for a large number of cases. Chronic pancreatitis means having an inflamed pancreas over a long period. It is most often caused by long term drinking of alcohol, although this type of chronic pancreatitis is less likely to increase pancreatic cancer risk than other types of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis that runs in families (hereditary pancreatitis)This is a rare condition, causing inflammation of the pancreas. It is caused by a faulty gene that can be inherited from one parent. About 5 out of 10 of these people will have cancer of the pancreas before they are 75 years old. Stomach ulcerHaving a stomach ulcer increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. This could be due to the types of bacteria that form in the stomach if you have an ulcer. They can produce cancer causing chemicals known as nitrosamines. People who have an operation for a stomach ulcer have double the risk of pancreatic cancer compared to the general population. DiabetesPeople with Diabetes may have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer but their risk is still small. Diabetes is a disease of the pancreatic cells that normally make insulin. It is possible that a growing cancer causes some cases of diabetes, rather than the diabetes causing the cancer. Pancreatic cancer specialists believe that anyone over 50 who develops diabetes and has unexplained weight loss should be investigated for other pancreatic disease. Most people who develop diabetes late in life are overweight, so diabetes and weight loss together are more unusual.

Remember - diabetes is a common disease. Even with the possible increased risk, the vast majority of people with diabetes will not get cancer of the pancreas.

Inflammatory bowel conditionsUlcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic bowel diseases. They both cause inflammation in the bowel. Having very severe ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease for many years increases your risk of pancreatic cancer. Tooth or gum diseaseSome research has shown an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in people who have tooth or gum disease. It is not clear why this is the case.