> Pancreatic Cancer

• Alternative Names
• Symptoms & Characteristics
• Treatment
• How Common Is It?
• Genetics & Inheritance
• Genetic Testing
• Support & More Information

Alternative Names

cancer of the pancreas; exocrine cancer

Symptoms & Characteristics

The pancreas produces substances that help break down food as well as hormones that help control blood sugar levels. Symptoms may include:

• yellowing of the skin and eyes (called jaundice)

• weight and appetite loss

• weakness and fatigue

• abdominal or back pain

• glucose intolerance

Early symptoms are often mild, vague or absent.

Treatment

Pancreatic cancer treatment may include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy and depends on the stage of cancer.

How Common Is It?

About 35,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year in the United States.

Genetics & Inheritance

Most cases of pancreatic cancer are not inherited and occur sporadically. Cancer is a multifactorial condition, which means it involves a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors.

• Some factors that have been proposed to influence pancreatic cancer risk include smoking, a high fat diet, diabetes and chronic pancreatitis.

• Environmental factors, such as long term exposure to gasoline and insecticides, have also been proposed to increase the risk to develop pancreatic cancer.

Researchers believe that there are probably a number of genes that affect the development and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.

A small percent of cases are due to a hereditary cancer syndrome.

• A hereditary cancer syndrome is caused by an inherited gene mutation that increases the chance to develop one or more types of cancer. Families are more likely to have a hereditary cancer syndrome if there are multiple generations of affected family members with the same cancer (or associated cancers). People who are diagnosed at an unusually young age or have certain rare cancers are also more likely to have a hereditary cancer syndrome. Several different hereditary cancer syndromes have been identified. Click here for more information about Cancer Genetics.

Some of the more common hereditary cancer syndromes that are associated with pancreatic cancer predisposition include:

• Cancer-predisposing mutations in the breast and ovarian hereditary cancer syndrome gene, BRCA2.

• Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

• Li-Fraumeni syndrome

• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

• Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)

• Familial cutaneous malignant melanoma type 2

In these cancer syndromes, the overall pancreatic cancer risk is relatively low when compared to the risk for other types of cancer.

Other yet to be identified or adequately classified genes may also contribute to pancreatic cancer.

A cancer genetic consultation with a trained genetic professional is important for a complete evaluation, accurate diagnosis, as well as discussion of the benefits and limitations of testing and recurrence risk.

Genetic Testing

In the absence of a known or suspected hereditary cancer syndrome, cancer predisposition testing for pancreatic cancer is unavailable. Cancer predisposition testing for certain hereditary cancer syndromes may be available through an in person cancer genetic consultation for people who are considered at risk.

The decision to have genetic testing is personal and should always be discussed with trained medical professional. Use our find a genetic professional directory to locate a trained genetic professional in your area.

• Health professionals who specialize in cancer genetics can also be found at the National Cancer Institute website.

• A medical geneticist can also be found at the American College of Medical Genetics website.

• A genetic counselor can also be found at the National Society of Genetic Counselors website.

Support & More Information

More information can be found at:

• The National Cancer Institute website