STEP 1: Prevention and early detection
Prevention
The two most effective prevention strategies are avoiding tobacco smoking and maintaining a normal body weight.
Risk factors
- Tobacco smoking (most established risk factor; risk increases significantly with greater intensity and duration)
- Cystic lesions of the pancreas
- Obesity
- Increased consumption of red meat and processed meat
- Family history of pancreatic cancer
- Older age
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Longstanding type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Male gender
- Asian or Pacific Islander ethnicity
- Chronic alcohol consumption
- Liver cirrhosis
- Stomach infections
- Heavy occupational exposure to certain pesticides, dyes and chemicals used in metal refining
- Certain hereditary conditions
Early detection
People with a strong family history of pancreatic cancer and related hereditary conditions should be referred to a familial cancer service, geneticist or oncologist for possible genetic testing.
Potential monitoring for pancreatic cancer in high-risk populations includes endoscopic ultrasound for small pancreatic head tumours and blood tests (CA 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen and liver biochemistry).
Screening
Population screening is not recommended for pancreatic cancer in Australia.
Checklist
