Risk factors
Although the exact causes of pancreatic cancer are unknown, there are five factors that can increase someone’s risk of developing it:
1. Age
This is the biggest risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Peak incidence is in the 65-75 year age group but 35 per cent of patients are under the age of 652 .
2. Smoking
A study estimated that around 29 per cent of pancreatic cancer cases are attributable to smoking. Five years after stopping smoking, the risk may be reduced to that of a non-smoker.3
3. Chronic pancreatitis
It is estimated that one per cent of pancreatic cancer cases are linked to chronic pancreatitis.4 There is an association with heavy alcohol consumption and pancreatitis so advising on lower consumption would be useful; however, there is no confirmed link between alcohol consumption and increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
4. Diabetes
A study showed that individuals in whom type II diabetes had recently been diagnosed (less than four years) had a 50 per cent greater risk of pancreatic cancer compared to individuals who had diabetes for five years or longer.5
Always keep this in mind when conducting MURs with customers who are already suffering from diabetes and when dispensing prescriptions for those who have been newly diagnosed.
5. Obesity
A study estimated that around 12 per cent of all pancreatic cancers in the UK are attributable to being overweight or obese.6