Most people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are over the age of 65. There is no single cause of pancreatic cancer, but some factors increase the risk of developing it, including 1:
- Smoking
- About 20%–30% of pancreatic cancers are related to smoking tobacco. The risk increases with the number of cigarettes and the number of years you smoke.
- Obesity
- Occupational exposure to certain chemicals
- Having diabetes
- Pancreatic cancer is more common in people with diabetes, but the reason for this connection is not fully understood. It may be that obesity is a risk for both diabetes and pancreatic cancer, or diabetes may be an early sign of pancreatic cancer.
- Having an inherited disorder, such as:
- Hereditary Pancreatitis
- A rare genetic condition that causes severe pancreatitis at a young age, often before a child is 10 years old. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas.
- Hereditary non-polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC)
- A rare inherited syndrome that may lead to colorectal cancer. People with type B Lynch syndrome have a higher risk of developing certain cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- An inherited syndrome that causes a very large number of polyps to develop in the gastrointestinal tract. It also causes dark spots on the lips and around and inside the mouth.
- Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome (FAMMM, also called atypical mole syndrome)
- An inherited condition that usually affects several members of a family. Family members with FAMMM develop melanoma skin cancer and many atypical moles. The moles are usually different sizes and shades.
- Hereditary Pancreatitis
1 Canadian Cancer Society