Pancreatic Cancer
There were 510,992 new pancreatic cancer diagnoses worldwide in 2022.1 It’s estimated that 67,440 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed in 2025.2 Pancreatic cancer can either be an exocrine or endocrine cancer, which have different risk factors, causes, symptoms and treatments. Exocrine cancers are the most common type that form in cells that produce enzymes that aid in digestion. 95% of pancreatic cancers are pancreatic adenocarcinomas, which begin in the ducts of the pancreas. Less common types of exocrine cancer include adenosquamous carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, signet ring cell carcinomas, acinar cell carcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas, and undifferentiated carcinomas with giant cells. Endocrine cancers, such as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, begin in cells that make hormones, like insulin and glucagon, which help control blood sugar levels).3
A few risk factors for pancreatic cancer include4
- Age: The risk of pancreatic cancer increases as people age and ⅔ of diagnoses are in people ≥65.
- Sex: Men are slightly more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women.
- Race: Black people are slightly more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than White people.
- Family History: Although most people who develop pancreatic cancer don’t have a family history, pancreatic cancer does run in some families, which may be due to an inherited syndrome.
- Inherited Genetic Syndromes: Gene mutations (changes) may cause up to 10% of pancreatic cancers and include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC), hereditary breast cancer, ataxia telangiectasia (AT), familial atypical multiple mole myeloma (FAMMM) syndrome, hereditary pancreatitis, Lynch syndrome, or Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
- Personal Health History: Type 2 diabetes and/or chronic pancreatitis can increase your risk. Being overweight can also increase your risk, and obesity can increase your risk of pancreatic cancer by 20%.
- Chemical Exposure: Heavy exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace, such as those found in the dry cleaning and metal working industries, can increase your risk.
- Tobacco Use
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