The exact cause of pancreatic cancer is still unknown. For this reason, it is best to avoid pancreatic cancer risk factors in your daily life to prevent pancreatic cancer. Here’s what you need to know to prevent pancreatic cancer.
1. Smoking is essential
Tobacco is one of the main causes of pancreatic cancer. It is known that regarding a third of pancreatic cancer is due to smoking, and smokers have a 1.7 times higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than non-smokers. To prevent pancreatic cancer, quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. When a former smoker quits smoking, it takes 10 years or more to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer as low as a non-smoker.
2. Maintaining a healthy weight
In some studies, obesity has been reported to increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Experts say that maintaining an appropriate weight through a healthy diet and proper exercise helps to prevent cancer, including pancreatic cancer, as well as various diseases such as lifestyle-related diseases. In order to prevent pancreatic cancer, it is recommended to avoid a high-fat, high-calorie diet and to practice a diet that consumes a lot of fruits and vegetables. In addition, it is recommended that you exercise enough to sweat for regarding 30 minutes a day 3 to 5 times a week.
3. Diabetes treatment and management
Diabetes is important to prevent pancreatic cancer. The risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases by 1.8 times if you have non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, which is ‘type 2 diabetes’. The prevalence of diabetes in Korean pancreatic cancer patients is 28-30%, which is more than three times higher than that of the general public (7-9%). Experts say that to prevent pancreatitis, diabetic patients need to be treated consistently and follow a strict diet.
4. Treatment of chronic pancreatitis
People with chronic pancreatitis also need to be extra cautious. Chronic pancreatitis is a disease in which normal pancreatic cells become inflamed and become fibrous tissue, causing the entire pancreas to become very hard and lose its function. Since chronic pancreatitis increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, it is desirable for people with chronic pancreatitis to receive appropriate treatment.
5. Beware of familial pancreatic cancer
Some pancreatic cancers are caused by genetic factors. If at least one person in your immediate family has had pancreatic cancer before the age of 50, or if you have at least two patients with pancreatic cancer regardless of the age of onset, it is necessary to suspect whether it is familial pancreatic cancer. In this case, it is advisable to consult with your doctor for regular check-ups.