Your risk for pancreatic cancer increases as you get older. It’s also more common in males than females. But avoiding smoking, eating a balanced diet, exercising enough, and limiting alcohol consumption can help lower your risk.
Many factors affect your risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Some, such as smoking and body weight, increase your risk but are manageable.
Others, such as family history and age, are not within your control. But you can focus on lowering your risk by living a healthy lifestyle.
According to the
Pancreatic cancer risk factors can be separated into two categories: those you can change and those you cannot.
Pancreatic cancer risk factors you can change
Risk factors you can change, sometimes with the help of a health professional, include:
- Smoking: Research from 2020 indicates that current smokers may be 1.7 times more likely than never-smokers to develop pancreatic cancer.
- Obesity: A
2023 studyTrusted Source found that abdominal obesity may be a more important causal risk factor for pancreatic cancer compared to overall excess body weight. - Type 2 diabetes (T2D): Recent research suggests that T2D can be both a risk factor and a symptom of pancreatic cancer, if it onsets suddenly. This should prompt screening.
- Chronic pancreatitis: According to a 2023 study, those with chronic pancreatitis may be
18.1 timesTrusted Source more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Other studies suggest the risk could be much higher or lower. - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Women with PCOS may be 1.2 times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer.
Exposure to carcinogensTrusted Source : These are substances known to cause cancer. Carcinogens linked to pancreatic cancer include:alcoholTrusted Source - cigarette smoke
- asbestos
- pesticides
- dyes
- petrochemicals
Pancreatic cancer risk factors you cannot change
Risk factors you cannot change include:
- Age: Your risk increases as you get older. Pancreatic cancer may be more likely to occur in those over 65, and research from 2022 indicates that it may peak after age 80.
- Sex: According to research estimates, the incidence rate in males is 14.8, whereas in females it is 11.6.
- Ethnicity: Pancreatic cancer incidence rates are highest among those who are Black, non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic.
- Family history: Your risk increases if you have two or more blood relatives who have had or have pancreatic cancer.
- Genetic mutations: Mutations in certain genes may be linked to an increased risk. These genes may include:
- BRCA1 and BRCA2
- CTRB1 and CTRB2
- NOC2L
- LINC-PINT
- NR5A2
- APOB
- DOK2
- PKN1
- GP2
- CDKN2A/p16
- PALB2
- ATM
Your lifestyle has a big impact on your cancer risk. You can start by making sure you:
- Eat a balanced diet: This includes whole fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, beans and lentils, whole grains, and omega-3s.
- Limit alcohol consumption: Because alcohol is a well-known carcinogen for pancreatic cancer and many other cancers, try to limit your intake or avoid it altogether.
- Avoid smoking: Cigarettes and cigarette smoke are both risk factors. If you need help quitting, speak with your doctor about your options for smoking cessation.
- Exercise enough: Aim for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity (anything you can talk but not quite sing during) most days. If reaching this number is difficult, that’s OK. Just focus on moving your body more for now.
As for health conditions that may also be risk factors, such as T2D, PCOS, and pancreatitis, while these aren’t curable, they are manageable.
- T2D is manageable through diet, GLP-1 medications, and insulin. You might even be able to reverse it and enter remission.
- PCOS is manageable with lifestyle changes, hormonal medications, and sometimes surgery.
- Pancreatitis is manageable with lifestyle changes, mainly avoiding alcohol and smoking, and sometimes surgery.
Routine screenings aren’t recommended for people at average risk of pancreatic cancer.
Screenings are mostly for people who exhibit symptoms (but pancreatic cancer is often asymptomatic until later stages) or those with a strong family history of it.
Testing options might
- imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, MRI, CT scan, cholangiopancreatography (looks at the pancreatic and bile ducts), or PET scan
- blood tests, such as liver function tests or tumor marker testing
- biopsy, such as a fine needle aspiration, endoscopic biopicy, or surgical biopsy
If you’re concerned that you might carry a pancreatic cancer gene mutation, you can try speaking with your doctor about genetic testing.
Pancreatic cancer has several risk factors. Some are manageable, such as smoking, obesity, and exposure to carcinogens, of which alcohol is a well-known one.
Others, such as family history, genetic mutations, and age, are out of your control. But there are other ways to reduce your risk.
You can start by eating a balanced diet, getting enough exercise, and limiting your alcohol and cigarette use.
If you’re concerned about your risk, speak with your doctor. They can assess your individual health, health history, and family history to determine if you’re at high risk.
