The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2025, about 67,440 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and about 51,980 people will die from pancreatic cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the U.S. and about 7% of all cancer deaths.
A late diagnosis of this cancer is common. In fact, more than 80% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in stage 3 or 4.
Pancreatic cancer doesn’t have a high-risk factor group. While five percent may have a genetic syndrome putting them at higher risk, 95 percent of patients do not have a defined age range, racial or social demographic or location risk factor.
We also don’t have an inexpensive way to screen for pancreatic cancer like we do for other types of cancers.
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
- Light-colored stools.
- Dark urine.
- Pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back.
- Weight loss for no known reason.
- Loss of appetite.
- Feeling very tired.
While there’s no way to prevent pancreatic cancer, smoking and health history can play a role in your risk for the disease. Risk factors include:
- Smoking.
- Being very overweight.
- Having a personal history of diabetes or chronic pancreatitis.
- Having a family history of pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.
- Having certain hereditary conditions, such as:
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome.
- Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC; Lynch syndrome).
- Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
- Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome.
- Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome.
Richard Lockette is living life after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer thanks to the Brown Cancer Center: UofLHealth.org/Richard/
In 2024, the Brown Cancer Center created the Gibbs Pancreatic Cancer Research Program to find and test new treatments for pancreatic cancer: UofLHealth.org/News/Gibbs-Foundation-Cancer-Research-Investment/
For more information on pancreatic cancer, visit UofLHealth.org/Locations/Brown-Cancer-Center/Services/Cancers-We-Treat/Pancreatic-Cancer/.
