Pancreatic Cancer Risk: What Raises It and What You Can Do

Pancreatic cancer feels scary because it’s often found late. Still, knowing the main risk factors and practical steps you can take helps you act earlier and smarter. This page breaks down what's proven to raise risk, what symptoms to watch for, and realistic ways to reduce risk or catch problems sooner.

Common risk factors

Age: Risk goes up after 60. Most cases occur in older adults.

Smoking: This is one of the strongest lifestyle risks. If you smoke, quitting is the single best move to lower your risk.

Family history and genes: If close relatives had pancreatic cancer, your risk may be higher. Known genes include BRCA2, PALB2, and CDKN2A. If several family members had pancreatic, breast, ovarian, or melanoma cancers, talk to a genetic counselor about testing.

Long-standing diabetes and obesity: Both are linked to higher pancreatic cancer risk. New-onset diabetes in older adults can sometimes be an early warning sign, so a sudden diagnosis should prompt careful follow-up.

Chronic pancreatitis and heavy alcohol use: Ongoing inflammation of the pancreas increases risk. Reducing alcohol and treating underlying pancreatitis can lower harm over time.

How to lower your risk & when to see a doctor

Quit smoking. Seriously—stopping smoking reduces risk over time and gives clear health gains across the board.

Lose weight safely and stay active. Aim for steady weight loss if you’re overweight and build daily movement into your routine. Both help reduce diabetes risk and inflammation.

Manage diabetes and metabolic health. Work with your doctor to keep blood sugar under control. Good diabetes care lowers complications and supports early detection if something changes.

Limit processed meat and excessive alcohol. A balanced diet with more vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein supports overall cancer prevention.

Know your family history. If several relatives had pancreatic or related cancers, ask for a referral to genetics. High-risk people may qualify for surveillance programs using MRI or endoscopic ultrasound. These are not routine for everyone but can catch changes earlier in selected high-risk groups.

Watch for warning signs: unexplained weight loss, new or worsening abdominal/back pain, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), dark urine, pale stools, or new-onset diabetes without clear cause. These don’t prove cancer, but they deserve prompt medical checks.

Ask about clinical trials if you’re high risk or if screening finds suspicious changes. Trials can offer access to newer tests and expert care teams.

Bottom line: You can’t eliminate risk entirely, but you can change things that matter—quit smoking, control weight and diabetes, and get genetic advice if your family history looks concerning. If something feels off, push for evaluation rather than waiting.

If you want, I can point to resources on genetic testing, what to expect from surveillance scans, or a short checklist to bring to your doctor. Which would help most?