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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more| .
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Pancreatic cancer is not a common type of cancer and affects 7000 people in the UK each year. It is rare below the age of 50. The cause is unknown, but research is ongoing all the time. Like other cancers, cancer of the pancreas isn’t infectious and can’t be passed on to other people.
There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer. These are: age, smoking, inflammation of the pancreas, diet, diabetes, and inherited faulty genes. Most pancreatic cancers happen by chance and don’t run in families.
Pancreatic cancer occurs mainly in people aged between 60 and 80. About 6 in10 are diagnosed in people over 70. Some of the rarer types, such as neuroendocrine| and papillary cancer, may affect people in their 20s and 30s.
People who smoke are more at risk of developing cancer of the pancreas. Up to a third of all pancreatic cancers may be linked to smoking. People who chew tobacco are also at an increased risk.
People who have chronic pancreatitis – where the pancreas becomes inflamed – are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. One of the main causes of chronic pancreatitis is drinking large amounts of alcohol over long periods of time. However, hereditary pancreatitis is more likely to cause cancer.
A diet that contains large amounts of fat, sugar, red or processed meat may increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Your risk may also be increased if you don’t eat many fresh fruit and vegetables.
There may be a small increase in the risk of developing cancer of the pancreas if you have diabetes. However diabetes is very common and the vast majority of people with it won’t develop pancreatic cancer.
Most cancers of the pancreas are not caused by an inherited faulty gene, and so members of your family are very unlikely to be at an increased risk of pancreatic cancer because you have it.
Most pancreatic cancers happen by chance and don't run in families. So, if only one close relative has had pancreatic cancer it is unlikely that cancer of the pancreas runs in your family. However, up to 10 out of every 100 cases (10%) of cancer of the pancreas might be due to inheriting a faulty gene.
There are a number of different gene changes that can increase your risk of developing cancer of the pancreas. These include:
Some families don't have any of these medical conditions but have at least two first degree relatives affected by pancreatic cancer. (A first degree relative is a father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister.) These families may have familial pancreatic cancer. We don't know which gene or genes are linked to familial pancreatic cancer. So, it isn't possible to do a genetic test to find out if other members of the family are at increased risk or not.
It is recommended that if your family may have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer you are referred to a specialist cancer genetics centre, where you will be counselled about your personal risk and offered the chance to take part in screening|.
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