Pancreatic Cancer: Who's at Risk? What are the Symptoms?
No one knows the exact causes of pancreatic cancer.
Doctors can seldom explain why one person gets pancreatic cancer and another
does not. However, it is clear that this disease is not contagious. No
one can "catch" cancer from another person.
Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than
others to develop pancreatic cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a
person's chance of developing a disease.
Studies have found the following risk factors:
- Age: The likelihood of
developing pancreatic cancer increases with age. Most pancreatic cancers occur
in people over the age of 60.
- Smoking: Cigarette smokers are two or
three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop pancreatic cancer.
- Diabetes: Pancreatic cancer
occurs more often in people who have diabetes than in people who do not.
- Being male: More men than women are
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
- Being African American:
African Americans are more likely than Asians, Hispanics, or whites to get
pancreatic cancer.
- Family history: The risk for developing pancreatic cancer triples if a
person's mother, father, sister, or brother had
the disease. Also, a family history of colon or ovarian cancer increases the
risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Chronic pancreatitis:
Chronic pancreatitis is a painful condition of the
pancreas. Some evidence suggests that chronic pancreatitis may increase the risk
of pancreatic cancer.
Other studies suggest that exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace or
a diet high in
fat may increase the chance of getting pancreatic cancer.
Most people with known risk factors do not get pancreatic cancer. On the
other hand, many who do get the disease have none of these factors. People who
think they may be at risk for pancreatic cancer should discuss this concern with
their
doctor. The doctor may suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an
appropriate schedule for checkups.
What are the symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?
Symptoms Pancreatic cancer is sometimes called a "silent disease"
because early pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms. But, as the
cancer grows, symptoms may include:
- Pain in the upper abdomen or upper back
- Yellow skin and eyes, and dark urine from jaundice
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss
These symptoms are not sure signs
of pancreatic cancer. An infection or other
problem could also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can diagnose the cause of
a person's symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor so that the
doctor can treat any problem as early as possible.
For additional information, please visit the
Pancreatic
Cancer Center.
Portions of the
above information has been provided with the kind permission of www.cancer.gov.
Last Editorial Review: 5/19/2003
