Who is most at risk?
Anyone can develop pancreatic cancer, but certain factors increase susceptibility:
- Age: Most cases occur after the age of 60.
- Smoking: doubles the risk (approximately 25% of cases are related to smoking)
- Family history: A close relative with pancreatic cancer significantly increases the risk.
- Late-onset type 2 diabetes: develops after the age of 50 without any identifiable cause.
- Obesity and lack of exercise: Promoting chronic inflammation
- Chronic pancreatitis, especially alcohol-related
The conclusion
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and has devastating consequences if diagnosed late. Education is the first line of defense. If you or a loved one experiences persistent abdominal/back pain or unexplained weight loss , seek medical attention immediately.
It’s better to trigger false alarms than to discover this disease too late. Knowing the early signs can save valuable time – and lives.
