Pancreatic cancer risk factors

A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease. Having a risk factor, or even many, does not mean you will get cancer. Some people who get cancer have few or no known risk factors.

Risks you can influence

Tobacco. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors. Tobacco use roughly doubles risk compared with people who have never smoked. About 25% of pancreatic cancers are thought to be caused by cigarette smoking. Cigar and smokeless tobacco also raise risk. Risk starts to drop after a person stops smoking.

Obesity. People with obesity are about 20% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer.

Alcohol, diet, chemicals, inactivity. Heavy alcohol use can lead to chronic pancreatitis. Diets high in red and processed meats and saturated fats may increase risk. Heavy workplace exposure in dry cleaning and metalworking has been linked to higher risk. Daily movement may help.

Risks you cannot change

Risk rises with age; most patients are older than 45, about two-thirds are at least 65, and the average age at diagnosis is about 70. Men are slightly more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women. African Americans have an elevated risk. Family history and inherited syndromes (BRCA1/2, PALB2, p16/CDKN2A, PRSS1, Lynch, Peutz-Jeghers and others) can account for as many as 10% of cases.

If you have a strong family history, ask your doctor about a genetic counselor and surveillance — even if you have no symptoms.