Pancreatic cancer
Anything that can increase your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor.
Different cancers have different risk factors. Having one or more of these risk factors doesn't mean you will definitely get that cancer.
The risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:
Pancreatic cancer is more common in older people. Almost half of all new cases are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over. Pancreatic cancer is very rare in people under 40 years old.
Read about why cancer is more common in older people
Smoking cigarettes and cigars increase pancreatic cancer risk. More than 15 out of 100 cases of pancreatic cancer in the UK (more than 15%) are caused by smoking.
Other types of tobacco, such as smokeless tobacco, may also increase pancreatic cancer risk, but we need more research to say for sure.
The best way for people who smoke to reduce their risk of cancer is to stop smoking completely. This will also improve their overall health. The risk of pancreatic cancer in people who stopped smoking 20 years ago is the same as for people who have never smoked.
Find out more about smoking, tobacco and cancer including how to find support to stop
More than 10 in 100 pancreatic cancers in the UK (more than 10%) are caused by overweight or obesity. This could be because the pancreas makes more insulin in people who are overweight or obese. But we need more research to know for sure.
There are lots of things that can affect our weight, including some that are outside of our control. But support is available for losing weight and keeping a healthy weight.
Find out more about where to go for support and advice on how to manage your weight
Most cases of pancreatic cancer are not linked to family history, this means they don’t run in families. But for some people it can be.
The risk of pancreatic cancer is increased in people who have or had a with it. This might be because of an inherited . Or it might be because people in the same family may have shared risk factors like smoking or obesity.
This risk is higher in people who have or had:
2 or more first degree relatives with pancreatic cancer (familial pancreatic cancer)
a first degree relative diagnosed at a younger age
Between 4 and 10 in 100 people (between 4 and 10%) with pancreatic cancer have familial pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer can be part of a family cancer syndrome. This is where an inherited gene change causes a number of different cancers within members of the same family.
The risk of pancreatic cancer is higher in people who carry a change. There is also evidence that a gene change can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. But the evidence is mixed. A PALB2 gene change is also linked to an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer risk is higher in people who have:
Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome (FAMMM)
/hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
You often know about these conditions if one runs in your family
Read about family history and cancer
The risk of pancreatic cancer is increased in people with certain medical conditions.
Long term inflammation of the pancreas is called chronic pancreatitis. It is most often caused by long term heavy drinking of alcohol. There is a link between having chronic pancreatitis and developing pancreatic cancer.
Rarely, pancreatitis can run in families (hereditary pancreatitis). It is caused by a gene change that you inherit from one of your parents. This type of pancreatitis is not linked to drinking alcohol.
People with hereditary pancreatitis have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. This is when compared to the rest of the population.
Diabetes is a disease where the making cells in the pancreas don’t make enough or any insulin. People with diabetes have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
It’s possible that a growing pancreatic cancer causes some cases of diabetes. This is rather than diabetes causing pancreatic cancer.
Gallstones are made of tiny amounts of fats and that stick together to form a stone in the . People with gallstones have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. This is when compared to those without gallstones.
This might be because gallstones can cause chronic pancreatitis. This is another risk factor for pancreatic cancer. The increased risk may only be for a short time after gallstones have been diagnosed. This could be because people have a number of tests when they are diagnosed with gallstones. So, if there is a pancreatic cancer, the doctor may find it at the same time.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms including:
having extra weight around the tummy (abdomen)
high blood sugar levels due to cells not responding to insulin properly (insulin resistance)
high blood pressure
high levels of fat in the blood
People with metabolic syndrome may have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared with the general population.
Pancreatic cancer is more common in people with chronic pancreatitis. And around 70 out of 100 people (about 70%) with chronic pancreatitis develop it due to drinking high amounts of alcohol over a long period.
Some research suggests there may be a link between drinking alcohol and pancreatic cancer. The studies show that the risk may increase with higher amounts of alcohol.
Find out how alcohol causes cancer and how to reduce your risk
There are 4 different blood groups: A, B, AB and O. O is the most common blood group in the UK.
There is evidence of a link between a slightly increased risk of pancreatic cancer and having blood group A, B or AB. But doctors do not know why having one of these blood groups increase the risk.
Some evidence suggests there may be a link between red meat and an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. But we need more research to know for sure.
The increase in risk seems to only be in men. This might be because women generally eat less red meat.
Read more about red meat and cancer
There are ways you can reduce your risk of cancer.
Find out more about reducing your cancer risk
Stories about possible cancer causes are often in the media and it can be hard to know what’s true and what’s not. You may have heard of something that isn’t included here. This is because we only include a risk factor in this information if it is supported by good quality evidence.
Find out about common cancer myths and questions on the causes of cancer
Last reviewed: 13 Jul 2026
Next review due: 13 Jul 2029
Learn about the causes of cancer and how to reduce the risk of cancer. We also bust some common cancer myths and provide tips for making healthy changes.
Pancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas. Find out about the pancreas and how it works.
Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include pain in the tummy or back, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), changes to your poo (stool) and weight loss. Find out more about these symptoms.
Most people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after they become unwell and go to A&E. Others start by seeing their GP. Find out what to expect when you see your GP and any tests you might have.
Survival depends on many factors including the stage and type of pancreatic cancer. No one can say how long you will live, so the statistics on this page are just a guide.
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