Pancreatic Cancer -Risk Factors and Diagnosis

March 2, 2023

3 min read

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer occurs when cancerous cells develop within the tissues of the pancreas. The pancreas works to excrete enzymes that aid digestion and manage blood glucose levels. The pancreas may produce both cancerous and benign tumors requiring further testing to determine if the tumor is malignant.

Pancreatic cancer risk factors

Many health conditions are associated with several risk factors that may increase a person’s risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Some risk factors can be helped, while others may be out of your hands.

Risk factors include:

Tobacco use

An estimated 30 million adults in the United States reported tobacco use in 2020. Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products have been known to leave people two times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Other forms of smoking like pipes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco may increase the risk as well.

Obesity and Diet

A person is considered obese if they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Obesity may be caused by genetics, poor diet, or other health conditions and makes people more likely to develop cancerous cells in the pancreas. Foods that have a high amount of fat and chronic alcohol abuse lead to recurrent pancreatitis and repeated inflammation causing damage.

Diabetes

It is not known what the direct link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer is but those living with type 2 diabetes are more likely to experience pancreatic cancer.

Chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. This is often seen in people living with alcohol abuse, those who smoke, and gallstones. The damage over time leads to an overproduction of pancreatic cells, increasing the risk of malignant cellular growth.

Family history

It is important to understand your family history regarding illnesses and chronic conditions. However, only about 10% of pancreatic cancer patients have a family history. Other links between pancreatic cancer include genetic conditions that may be hereditary.

Other

People aged 60 to 80 years of age are more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is more common in men than in women.

How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?

Diagnosing pancreatic cancer requires a medical professional. A doctor will begin by assessing any recent changes in weight or appetite, pain that begins in the abdomen and radiates to the back, or any new or worsening symptoms. If the doctor suspects a benign or malignant pancreatic tumor, further testing will be ordered. These tests include:

Imaging

Imaging tests are used to create detailed pictures of internal organs to assess for the presence of a tumor or abnormality. Common imaging tests include:

CT scan

Computed tomography or CT scan, is a medical imaging scan that combines a series of x-rays taken at various angles to create cross-sectional images. A typical CT scan only takes about 15 minutes and is a painless test.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound uses sound waves to provide detailed images of the internal body and is frequently used to diagnose pancreatic cancer.

Endoscopic ultrasound

An endoscopic ultrasound (ESU) is used to create detailed images of your pancreas from inside your abdominal cavity. It is more accurate than a standard ultrasound as it gets a closer look without the possibility of obstruction.

Biopsy

A biopsy is performed by a skilled physician allowing him to remove a sample of suspicious tissue to be evaluated under a microscope. During an endoscopic ultrasound, your doctor may order a biopsy sample to be taken to maximize results.

Fine-needle aspiration

Fine-needle aspiration is a common type of biopsy technique. It involves inserting a small needle into the affected area to retrieve a small sample of tissue to determine if cancerous cells are present.

Blood test

Blood tests may be ordered to determine the presence of proteins that are shed by pancreatic cancer cells. In addition to checking protein levels, a CA19-9 blood test helps allow your doctor to determine how well the cancer will respond to treatment to better assess a treatment plan.