🧪Pancreatic cancer

#1Family history[1]≈32×

A first-degree relative with pancreatic cancer raises risk several-fold, and it climbs steeply with each additional affected relative; some of this is inherited syndromes (BRCA2, Lynch, hereditary pancreatitis) a genetic counselor can test for.

How many first-degree relatives (parent, sibling, child) have had pancreatic cancer?

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#2Chronic pancreatitis[2]≈4×

Chronic pancreatitis, ongoing inflammation of the pancreas usually from years of heavy drinking, gallstones or genetics, carries one of the largest single risks on this chart, though most people who have it never develop the cancer.

Have you ever been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis?

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#3Smoking[3]+120%

Across 12 case-control studies (6,507 cases, 12,890 controls) in the International Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium, current smokers had 2.2 times the odds of pancreatic cancer of never smokers, and former smokers 1.2 times, with risk approaching that of never smokers about 20 years after quitting.

Do you smoke?

Same number, 2 answers: The pooled analysis compared current smokers with never smokers and did not split its main estimate by cigarettes a day.

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#4Diabetes[4]+82%

Across 36 studies and 9,220 people with pancreatic cancer, type 2 diabetes went with 82% more pancreatic cancer, and diabetes diagnosed under 4 years earlier carried a bigger excess (2.1×) than diabetes of 5 or more years (1.5×), some of it the tumor itself unsettling blood sugar before it is found.

What’s your blood sugar like?

Same number, 2 answers: The meta-analysis compared diabetes with no diabetes; it did not split by how well it was controlled.

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#5Gum disease[5]+64%

In 51,529 US male health professionals followed 16 years, a history of periodontal disease went with 64% more pancreatic cancer, adjusted for detailed smoking history; cumulative tooth loss on its own was not clearly linked.

How are your teeth and gums?

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#6Alcohol[6]+60%

Across 10 case-control studies and 5,585 patients, drinking up to about four drinks a day showed no link to pancreatic cancer; risk only rose at genuinely heavy intake, nine or more drinks a day.

How much alcohol do you drink?

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#7Body weight[7]≈+46%

Across 23 prospective studies and 9,504 cases, every 5 units of BMI went with 10% more pancreatic cancer, a dose-response with no clear floor: even non-smokers within the “normal” range showed rising risk.

How would you describe your weight?

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#8Nut consumption[8]−35%

In the Nurses’ Health Study, 75,680 women followed up to 30 years, eating a 1 oz serving of nuts twice a week or more went with 35% less pancreatic cancer than largely abstaining, holding up after adjusting for weight and diabetes and within every activity, smoking and diet stratum tested.

How often do you eat nuts (a small handful, about 1 oz/28 g)?

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#9Physical inactivity[9]−28%

Across five prospective studies, the most active people developed 28% less pancreatic cancer than the least active.

How many days a week do you get 30+ minutes of exercise?

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#10Waist size[7]≈+11%

The same dose-response meta-analysis found abdominal fat raises pancreatic cancer risk independent of BMI: every 10 cm of waist circumference went with 11% more.

How’s your waistline?

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#11Processed meat[10]+19%

Across 11 prospective studies and 6,643 cases, every 50 g a day of processed meat (two rashers of bacon, one hot dog) went with 19% more pancreatic cancer.

How often do you eat processed meat (bacon, deli, sausage)?

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