Risk factors

• People with relatives with pancreatic cancer

• Those who have a parent who has suffered from hereditary chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), hereditary colorectal cancer or hereditary breast cancer, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome or familial multiple nevi syndrome;
• People with diabetes, but it is not known whether in this case cancer is a cause or a consequence of diabetes.

• Smoking. Smokers run a 2-3 times higher risk than non-smokers;
• Obesity, high calorie diet, low in fiber and antioxidants

• The role of alcohol is discussed. It promotes the occurrence of chronic pancreatitis, which in turn increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer
• Exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons, organophosphate insecticides, petrochemical industry, metallurgy, sawmills

Prevention

It is not known how it would be possible to prevent the pancreatic cancer. However, the risk of developing it can be reduced by avoiding smoking, by maintaining a food healthy and regularly practicing physical activity.

Diagnostic methods of pancreatic cancer

Because of their deep localization, pancreatic tumors are difficult to spot early and additional examinations are essential.

The diagnosis is based on the abdominal scanner, supplemented if necessary by ultrasound, endoscopy of the bile or pancreatic tract.

Laboratory tests look for tumor markers in the blood (tumor markers are proteins produced by cancer cells that can be measured in the blood)