pancreas cancer : Risk factors

The vast majority of pancreatic cancers occur in people older than 65. Other important risk factors include:

Race. Black men and women have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
Sex. More men than women develop pancreatic cancer.
Cigarette smoking. If you smoke, you're two to three times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than nonsmokers are. This is probably the greatest known risk factor for pancreatic cancer, with smoking associated with almost one in three cases of pancreatic cancer.
Abnormal glucose metabolism. Having diabetes may increase your risk of pancreatic cancer. Insulin resistance or high insulin levels may also be risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
Hereditary pancreatitis. Your chances of developing pancreatic cancer increase if you have hereditary chronic pancreatitis. Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is a rare genetic condition marked by recurrent attacks of pancreatitis — a painful inflammation of your pancreas.
Excess weight. People who are very overweight or obese may have a greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer than do people of normal weight.
Diet. A diet high in animal fat and low in fruits and vegetables may increase your risk of pancreatic cancer.
Chemical exposure. People who work with petroleum compounds, including gasoline and other chemicals, have a higher incidence of pancreatic cancer than people not exposed to these chemicals.

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