Pancreatic Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates that 42,470 people in the United States were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009 and that about 35,240 people died of the disease in the same time period. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

The pancreas contains exocrine cells, which produce digestive enzymes that are secreted into the intestines, and endocrine cells, which secrete important hormones into the bloodstream. While cancer can arise in either type of cell, exocrine tumors are the most common type of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic endocrine tumors are uncommon, making up only about 1 % of pancreatic cancers, and are known as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Several risk factors for pancreatic cancer have been identified. Nearly 90% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are older than 55 years, and the average age at the time of diagnosis is 72. Men have a slightly higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than women, which may be due to gender-specific differences in tobacco use.  Smokers have a 2-3 times higher risk of developing pancreatic cancers than non-smokers. The impact of smoking may also account for the higher risk of pancreatic cancer among African-Americans.  The increased risk in African-Americans may also be related to increased rates of diabetes in this population, as diabetes (primarily type 2) also appears to be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Exposure to pesticides, dyes, and chemicals, family history, and genetic syndromes may also increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are the main treatment approaches for both exocrine pancreatic tumors and NETs. Combination therapies may be used depending on the stage of the cancer.  NETs may also be treated with non-chemotherapy drugs.

Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s “Detailed Guide: Pancreatic Cancer”

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