There can be many external causes of Pancreatic Cancer. Certain factors may aggravate Pancreatic Cancer symptoms or increase the chances of acquiring the mutations, as mentioned earlier. Some of these risk factors are as follows: –

RISK FACTORS:

• Age- Chances of acquiring Pancreatic Cancer increase with the advent of older age. Pancreatic Cancer treatment is arduous when it comes to patients aged 60 and above. The treatment is less effective and causes severe side effects. Most people who show signs of Pancreatic Cancer are older people. Out of these, 90% are older than 55, and 70% are older than 65.
• Genetics- People with a family history of Pancreatic Cancer are more likely to acquire it. This is due to the inherited gene mutations.
• Gender- There is a minor difference in the percentage of men who have Pancreatic cancer, as compared to women. Men are more likely to acquire this type of cancer than women.
• Race- Race or ethnicity makes a massive difference to the chances of having Pancreatic Cancer. This could be because of the external factors attached to a race. Black people have a higher risk of getting Pancreatic Cancer as compared to Asians, Hispanics, or Mexican people. Jewish people also have a high risk of acquiring Pancreatic Cancer.
• Diabetes- If you have diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes, you are at a higher risk of Pancreatic Cancer. This is why it is important to keep Diabetes in check.
• Chronic pancreatitis- Having an inflamed pancreas can increase the risk of acquiring Pancreatic Cancer. Chronic pancreatitis can occur due to excessive smoking or drinking.
• Smoking- Exposure to excessive Tobacco smoke can shoot up the chances of acquiring an inflamed pancreas, and in turn, increase your chances of having Pancreatic Cancer.
• Cirrhosis- Cirrhosis is usually caused due to Alcohol abuse. Your liver cells face the brunt of it, but it also increases the risk of developing Pancreatic Cancer. Another reason for having Cirrhosis might be a specific type of Hepatitis.
• Chemical exposure- Benzene, petrochemicals, pesticides, etc. can be harmful to your health. Exposure to these chemicals can trigger acquired gene mutations.
• Hepatitis B- While there isn’t a lot of research on this subject, studies show people who have Hepatitis B infection are more likely to develop signs of Pancreatic Cancer later.