Anyone can develop pancreatic cancer, but certain factors increase vulnerability:
Age: Most cases occur after 60
Tobacco use: Doubles the risk (about 25% of cases linked to smoking)
Family history: A close relative with pancreatic cancer raises risk significantly
Late-onset type 2 diabetes: Appearing after age 50 without clear cause
Obesity and sedentary lifestyle: Promote chronic inflammation
Chronic pancreatitis, especially alcohol-related
The Bottom Line
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and devastating when diagnosed late. Awareness is the first line of defense. If you or a loved one experience persistent abdominal/back pain or unexplained weight loss, seek medical evaluation without delay.
It is better to raise a false alarm than to discover this disease too late. Knowledge of the early signs could save precious time—and lives.
