Pancreatic cancer causes

Synonyms

Pancreatic carcinoma (or more precise term in the narrower sense: ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas), pancreatic carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic tumour English: pancreatic carcinoma

What are the causes of pancreatic cancer?

There can be many causes for the development of pancreatic cancer (pancreatic carcinoma), but it is not yet clear for what reason this disease occurs. However, various studies have identified a number of factors that favour the development of a tumour in the pancreas. These are known as risk factors.

Stomach removal

On the one hand, it is assumed that people who have had their stomach partially or completely removed have a higher risk. The removal of parts of the stomach or the entire organ may become necessary in the course of a stomach ulcer. The risk of subsequently developing a pancreatic tumour increases 3 to 7 times in these cases.

Smoking and alcohol

Furthermore, the consumption of tobacco products is considered one of the biggest risk factors for the development of pancreatic cancer. The connection between smoking and the development of tumours has now been proven beyond doubt. It is assumed that in about a quarter of the patients suffering from pancreatic cancer there is a direct connection with the consumption of tobacco products.

If these people also have other risk factors, their probability of developing pancreatic cancer is multiplied. Another risk factor that has been proven beyond doubt is the excessive consumption of alcohol. A daily consumption of about 33g alcohol (i.e. 1-2 beers) is sufficient to increase the probability of developing pancreatic cancer. If this alcohol abuse takes place over a longer period of time, the risk of cancer can even increase by a factor of 2.5. A pre-existing disease that can often be used as a cause for the development of pancreatic cancer (pancreatic carcinoma) after years is the chronic form of pancreatitis (chronic pancreatitis).

Nutrition

Another risk factor is what many experts call a wrong diet. The frequent consumption of vegetables with a high fibre and vitamin content, on the other hand, is said to significantly reduce the probability of pancreatic carcinoma developing. The long-term overconsumption of high-fat foods and meat can possibly be a risk factor. – Gall bladder (green)

  • Pancreatic tumor (purple)
  • Pancreatic goose g (yellow)
  • Pancreatic head (blue)
  • Pancreatic body (Copus pancreaticus) (blue)
  • Pancreas tail (blue)
  • Bile duct (Ductus cysticus) (green)

Inheritance

However, in addition to these risk factors, which can be minimized by one’s own behavior, many genetic susceptibilities seem to exist. Approximately 5 to 10 percent of patients undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer are non-smokers, do not drink alcohol, have a healthy basic diet and no corresponding previous illnesses. Since in these cases there are often several people in the family who suffer or have suffered from a tumour of the pancreas, it can be assumed that there is a hereditary connection.

Mainly people who suffer from a genetically based form of pancreatitis belong to a so-called risk group in this context. The hereditary pancreatitis itself is caused by a mutation (defect) that strongly influences the gland’s work performance and is passed on from generation to generation. Approximately 70 percent of patients suffering from this form of pancreatitis develop pancreatic cancer by the age of 70.

In addition, many other hereditary diseases also appear to favour the development of pancreatic carcinoma. One of these diseases is the so-called MEN-1 syndrome. MEN is the abbreviation for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia.

In addition, von- Hippel-Lindau syndrome (or Hippel-Lindau disease), a genetic tumour disease, which first manifests itself through the formation of benign tumours in the area of the eye, is a significant risk factor. It can also be observed that pancreatic cancer often occurs in people who suffer from a hereditary disease called Lynch syndrome. The disease known as lynch syndrome (or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma) is a tumor disease that first appears in the large intestine and over the years can lead to the development of pancreatic cancer. In summary, it can therefore be said that although the causes of the development of pancreatic cancer are not yet known exactly, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and various hereditary diseases can be identified as risk factors.