Internal Medicine

Pancreatic Cancer Causes

Anatomy of the pancreas and bile

Note

All information given here is only of a general nature, tumor therapy always belongs in the hands of an experienced oncologist!

Synonyms

Pancreatic carcinoma (or more precise term in the narrower sense: ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas), pancreatic carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic tumor

English: pancreatic carcinoma

What are the causes of pancreatic cancer?

For the creation of Pancreatic cancer (Pancreatic cancer) there can be many causes, but it has not yet been conclusively clarified why this disease occurs. In various studies, however, a number of factors have been found that can lead to a Tumor in the pancreas favor. One speaks of so-called Risk factors.

Gastric removal

On the one hand, it is assumed that for people who the stomach partially or completely removed, there is a higher risk. The distance of parts of the stomach or the entire organ can result in a Gastric ulcer become necessary. The risk of developing a tumor of the pancreas afterwards increases in these cases by that 3 to even 7 times.

Smoking and alcohol

Furthermore, the consumption of Tobacco products as one of the biggest risk factors causing the emergence of Pancreatic cancer concerns. The connection between the Smoke and the tumor development has meanwhile been proven beyond doubt.
It is estimated that around a quarter of pancreatic cancer patients are directly related to tobacco consumption. If these people also have other risk factors, their probability of developing pancreatic carcinoma multiplies.

Another, unequivocally proven risk factor is the excessive consumption of alcohol . A daily amount of alcohol consumed of about 33g (speak 1- 2 beers) is sufficient for the probability of one cancer the pancreas develop, increase. If this alcohol abuse takes place over a longer period of time, the cancer risk can even decrease Factor 2.5 increase.
A previous illness that can often be used as the cause of the development of pancreatic cancer after years is the chronic form of the Inflammation of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis).

nutrition

Many experts refer to one as a further risk factor wrong diet. Frequent consumption of vegetables With a high fiber and vitamin content, however, the likelihood of developing pancreatic carcinoma should be clear Reduce. The long-term excessive consumption of high fat Food and flesh can possibly be a risk factor.

Anatomy of the pancreas and bile

Gall bladder (green)
Pancreatic tumor (purple)
Pancreatic organ g (yellow)
Pancreatic head (blue)
Body of the pancreas (Copus pancreaticus) (blue)
Pancreatic tail (blue)
Bile duct (ductus cysticus) (green)

Inheritance

In addition to these risk factors, which can be minimized by one's own behavior, there seem to be many genetic susceptibilities. Around 5 to 10 percent of patients receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer are non-smokers, do not drink alcohol, have a healthy basic diet and have no corresponding previous illnesses. Since in these cases several people within the family often suffer or suffered from a tumor of the pancreas, it can be assumed that there is a hereditary connection. Mainly people who have a genetic form of pancreatitis (Pancreatitis) suffer, belong in this context to a so-called risk group. Hereditary pancreatitis itself is caused by a mutation (defect) that strongly influences the work of the gland and is passed on from generation to generation. About 70 percent of patients who suffer from this form of pancreatitis develop pancreatic cancer by the age of 70. In addition, many other hereditary diseases also seem to promote the development of pancreatic cancer. One of these diseases is the so-called MEN-1 syndrome. MEN is short for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia. In addition, the von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (or Hippel-Lindau's disease), a genetically determined tumor disease that first shows up as benign tumors in the area of the eye, is a significant risk factor. It can also be found that pancreatic cancer often occurs in people who suffer from an inherited disease called Lynch's syndrome. The disease known as Lynch's syndrome (or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma) is a tumor disease that first becomes noticeable in the formation of cancerous ulcers in the large intestine and, over the years, also leads to the development of a tumor in the pancreas can.

In summary, it can be said that the causes for the development of pancreatic cancer are not yet exactly known, but smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and various hereditary diseases can be identified as risk factors.