November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Introduction

In 2009, an estimated 42,470 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and an estimated 35,240 people will die from the disease. Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which cancer cells appear in the tissues of the pancreas, an organ by the stomach which makes both juices which aid digestion and also hormones, including insulin. Pancreatic cancer is hard to detect, and often is not found until it has progressed to a late stage. Despite being rare, it is the fourth most fatal type of cancer, although rates are declining over time.

Pancreatic cancer risk factors

Risk factors include:

• age - the average of diagnosis is 72, and two out of three of patients are older than 65.
• tobacco use - pancreatic cancer rates are 2 to 3 times higher in smokers. Users of smokeless tobacco are also at an increased risk.
• diabetes - having type 2 diabetes has connection to increased risk; it is unknown whether type 1 diabetes also carries a risk.
• obesity and low physical activity levels - a lack of exercise is connected to increased risk.
• race - African-Americans are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than Caucasion, possibly due to lifestyle factors like smoking and diabetes.
• genetic syndromes - about 10 percent of pancreatic cancers are caused by abnormal genes.

Links and more information about pancreatic cancer

Sources: American Cancer Society; National Cancer Institute

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