What Causes Pancreatic Cancer?
Changes in your DNA cause cancer. These can be inherited from your parents or can arise over time. The changes that arise over time can happen because you were exposed to something harmful. They can also happen randomly.
Pancreatic cancer’s exact causes are not well understood. About 10% of pancreatic cancers are considered familial or hereditary. Most pancreatic cancer happens randomly or is caused by things such as smoking, obesity and age.
If you are a first-degree relative of someone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you may have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Your family member with pancreatic cancer is strongly recommended to undergo genetic testing for inherited mutations.
Negative results often mean you do not need to get genetic testing.
If the results are positive, unknown or if you have several close family members with cancer, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network recommends that you consult with a genetic counselor to determine if you should get genetic testing for inherited cancer risk and if you should discuss options for monitoring.
A person may also be more likely to get pancreatic cancer because of:
Diabetes can cause pancreatic cancer or can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer.
