What makes pancreatic cancer

Some people inherit gene changes from their parents that raise their risk of pancreatic cancer. Sometimes these gene changes are part of syndromes that include increased risks of other health problems as well.

These syndromes, which cause a small portion of all pancreatic cancers, are discussed in Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer. Research has shown that obese and even overweight people have a higher risk of being diagnosed with and dying from pancreatic cancer.

Chronic, heavy alcohol use can also increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, most likely by causing recurrent pancreatitis, which is repeated inflammation of the pancreas.

Learn more about how cancer risk relates to obesity , food choices , and drinking alcohol. Many studies have indicated that diabetes increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, especially when a person has had diabetes for many years. In addition, suddenly developing diabetes later in adulthood can be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer.

However, it is important to remember that not all people who have diabetes or who are diagnosed with diabetes as adults develop pancreatic cancer. Family history. This is called familial pancreatic cancer. You and your family may be at risk if 2 or more first-degree relatives or at least 3 members of the family have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

First-degree relatives include parents, children, and siblings. ASCO encourages people diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma to talk with their doctor about their family history of cancer.

Even without a strong family history, people diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma may want to consider genetic testing for hereditary pancreatic cancer. People with a family history of other cancer types that have genetic mutations in common with pancreatic cancer may also want to consider having discussions with a genetic counselor.

Rare inherited conditions. Members of families with specific, uncommon inherited conditions also have a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer, as well as other types of cancer. These conditions include the following:. Hereditary pancreatitis HP , which is a condition associated with recurrent pancreatitis and an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas.

It is typically a painful pancreatic disease. Some research suggests that having chronic pancreatitis may increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Exposure to certain chemicals such as pesticides, benzene, certain dyes, and petrochemicals may increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

A common bacterium called Helicobacter pylori , also called H. Pancreatic cancer is the 11th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.

Pancreatic tumors are either exocrine or neuroendocrine endocrine tumors. This is based on the type of cell they start in. Knowing the type of tumor is important because each type acts differently and responds to different treatments.

The most common type of pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma. They often grow slower than exocrine tumors. Learn about the types of pancreatic cancer. Changes in your DNA cause cancer. These can be inherited from your parents or can arise over time. The changes that arise over time can happen because you were exposed to something harmful.

They can also happen randomly. Most pancreatic cancer happens randomly or is caused by things such as smoking, obesity and age. If you are a first-degree relative of someone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you may have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Your family member with pancreatic cancer is strongly recommended to undergo genetic testing for inherited mutations. This does not mean that everyone who has these risk factors will get pancreatic cancer or that everyone who gets pancreatic cancer has one or more of these.

Learn more about pancreatic cancer risk factors. If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, we urge you to speak to your doctor immediately and reference pancreatic cancer. Fatigue, weakness and depression are also symptoms. A person with advanced pancreatic cancer may also have fluid in the abdomen and blood clots. Learn more about pancreatic cancer signs and symptoms. A pancreatic tumor can only be seen on an imaging study such as a computed tomography CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging MRI or endoscopic ultrasound EUS.

Then, the doctor gets a sample of the tumor tissue to figure out the exact diagnosis. The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, so doctors usually cannot see or feel the tumor during a physical exam. Also, pancreatic cancer symptoms are not always obvious and usually develop over time.

Doctors may use several tests to make a diagnosis. But, there is no standard test to diagnose pancreatic cancer.