Insights Into What Causes Pancreatic Cancer

By Author: Peter Tomar
Total Articles: 8
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Are you looking for answers to what causes pancreatic cancer? Medical science has not been able to come up with satisfactory explanation to cause of cancer. Alternatively there are number of risk factors that are claimed to enhance chances of contracting this malady.Pancreatic cancer factsThis type of cancer has attracted more attention after it was discovered that the legendary figure of Apple, Steve Job was suffering from it. He succumbed to it eight years after he was diagnosed of a not so common type of this cancer.Our pancreas is responsible for production of digestive juices as well as insulin apart from hormone production and breaking down of food particles. Thus it participates in digestive (exocrine) as well as endocrine functions. Cancer of pancreas is associated with uncontrolled growth of pancreatic cells. These cells are termed as malignant cells. If we have to live without pancreas, then we will have to supplement our system with insulin and pancreatic enzymes externally. One of the distinct features of pancreatic cancer is absence of symptoms in its early stages.Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in initial stages ...
... is hampered due to this. Common symptom of pancreatic cancer is pain in upper part of abdomen following meals. There are many other vague symptoms including vomiting, anorexia, and even depression.Controllable causes of pancreatic cancerAnswer to the questions such as what causes pancreatic cancer can be divided into two parts, because there are controllable as well as un-controllable risk factors that said to cause cancer of pancreas.Researchers have found a strong link between tobacco use and pancreatic cancer. Users of tobacco in different forms are two times more prone to suffer from pancreatic cancer than non-users. There are certain health hazards of working in chemical environment. Risk of getting pancreatic cancer is one of the job related hazards. People who work in pesticide and other chemical industries run the risk of contracting this cancer.Being overweight is also said to increase one’s chances of pancreatic cancer. Extreme obesity carries twenty percent higher risk of being diagnosed with CA pancreas.Un-controllable risk factorsGetting old is associated with different types of cancers and pancreatic cancer is not an exception. It is observed that majority of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are above forty five years of age.Racial aspects are also worth considering in terms of un-controllable risk factors since incidence of pancreatic cancer is more common in African Americans vis a vis white population. Different diseases such as diabetes, liver cirrhosis, ulcers caused by H. Pylori infection, hyperacidity syndrome, and chronic pancreatitis are important risk factors for development of pancreatic cancer.One of the major causes of pancreatic cancers is genetic mutations. Hereditary linkages between ovarian or breast cancers and BRCA2 have been already established. Similarly alterations in gene PRSS11, MEN1, NF and VHL can lead to different types of pancreatic cancers.Role of diet in general and consumption of alcohol or coffee in particular is being investigated. There is no clear evidence of any risk factors associated with these habits and cancer of pancreas.If you need to know what causes pancreatic cancer, then you have come to the right place. Patients Engage offers in depth information about chronic diseases. You can also read resourceful articles about health and fitness. Visit patientsengage.com now to know more.