What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which healthy cells in the pancreas stop working correctly and grow out of control. As it grows, a pancreatic tumor can affect the function of the pancreas, grow into nearby blood vessels and organs, and eventually spread to other parts of the body through a process called metastasis.
Pancreatic cancer is often difficult to diagnose and is often not found until later stages, when the cancer can no longer be removed with surgery and/or has spread from the pancreas to other parts of the body.
Pancreatic cancer risk can run in families and can be passed down from the mother and/or father’s side. Up to 10% of pancreatic cancers are part of genetic syndromes, which are cancers that are caused by an inherited mutation in certain genes. An example of a genetic syndrome that can cause pancreatic cancer is hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, caused by mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
You can read more about these kinds of cancers in the Is Cancer Genetic? article or learn more about testing for inherited cancer in the Genetic Testing for Cancer article.
64,050
estimated new cases of pancreatic cancer in the US in 2023
What are the types of pancreatic cancer?
The types of pancreatic cancer mainly depend on where the cancer begins to grow within the pancreas and consist of:
Exocrine tumors
- Make up about 93% of all pancreatic tumors
- Start in exocrine cells of the pancreas, which normally produce enzymes that aid with digestion
- The most common type of exocrine tumor is ductal adenocarcinoma, which begins in the ducts of the pancreas
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)
- Are also called pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) or islet cell tumors
- Often grow slower than exocrine tumors and make up about 7% of all pancreatic cancers
- Start in islet cells, which normally make hormones to control blood-sugar levels
- Are either functional (produce hormones) or nonfunctional (do not produce hormones). Most PNETs are nonfunctional
Recognizing the type of tumor is important because each type has distinct behaviors and responds to different treatments.
Risk factors
The following factors may increase a person’s risk of developing pancreatic cancer:
Age: most diagnoses occur in people over 45
Sex: men may have a higher risk than women
Race/ethnicity: certain ethnic groups may have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than others
Family history of cancer
Type 2 diabetes
Tobacco use
Being overweight or obese
Chronic pancreatitis (long-term inflammation of the pancreas)
Exposure to certain chemicals: chemicals such as certain pesticides and dyes
Please note that the risk factors listed above are not exhaustive.
