How can pancreatic cancer risk be reduced?

From the Guidelines

To reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, it is essential to avoid smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and adopt a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, as these factors can significantly minimize exposure to known carcinogens and maintain overall pancreatic health. The most critical lifestyle modifications include:

• Avoiding tobacco use, as it doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer due to carcinogens that damage pancreatic cells 1
• Maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise and a balanced diet, limiting red meat, processed foods, and alcohol consumption 1
• Managing diabetes effectively through medication adherence, regular blood sugar monitoring, and lifestyle modifications, as chronic diabetes increases pancreatic cancer risk 1
• Limiting exposure to workplace chemicals like pesticides and petroleum products by using protective equipment
• Regular health check-ups, especially if you have risk factors like family history or genetic syndromes such as Lynch syndrome or BRCA mutations 1 Additionally, individuals with a family history of pancreatic cancer or those who test positive for a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, CDKN2A, or STK11 may benefit from pancreas screening, which may be considered at age 50 years or 10 years younger than the earliest pancreatic cancer diagnosis in the family, whichever is earlier 1. Key factors to consider for pancreas screening include:
• Family history of pancreatic cancer
• Presence of genetic syndromes such as Lynch syndrome or BRCA mutations
• Testing for pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in genes associated with pancreatic cancer
• Age and individual risk factors, such as smoking or diabetes, which may influence the timing and frequency of screening 1

From the Research

Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors

• Pancreatic cancer is a significant healthcare concern with a steadily rising incidence worldwide 2
• Several risk factors associated with lifestyle have a significant impact on the risk of pancreatic cancer, including:
  • Smoking 2, 3, 4, 5
  • Obesity 2, 3, 4, 5
  • Alcohol consumption 2, 3
  • Dietary factors such as non-vegetarian diet 3
  • Toxins 3
• Non-modifiable risk factors include:
  • Increasing age 3
  • Familial cancer syndromes 3
  • Afro-American race 3
  • Hereditary and other forms of chronic pancreatitis 3
  • Diabetes 3, 4, 5
  • Non-O blood group 3

Reducing Pancreatic Cancer Risk

• Physicians should urge patients to comply with a healthy diet, cessation of smoking, and moderation of alcohol consumption, which may halve pancreatic cancer incidence 2
• Addressing modifiable risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, and smoking, could be key to mitigating the increasing incidence of pancreatic cancer 5
• Preventive strategies at the population level and an effective screening program targeted at high-risk people may help in prevention and early detection of pancreatic cancer 3
• Emerging evidence indicates that pancreatic surveillance can improve outcomes for individuals in certain high-risk groups 6