Pancreatic cancer primary prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sudarshana Datta, MD [2]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Primary prevention of pancreatic cancer involves the cessation of cigarette smoking, regular exercise and a healthy diet as per the American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines. Cigarette smoking is considered to be the most significant modifiable risk factor for the development of pancreatic cancer. The risk of developing pancreatic cancer becomes almost equivalent to that of a nonsmoker after five years of smoking cessation. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has issued guidelines for diet and physical activity at both individual and community levels and advocates the intake of plenty of vegetables and fruits, protein from fowl and plant sources like whole grains and consumption of tuna, mackerel or salmon that are major sources of protein and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Primary Prevention[edit | edit source]

Prevention of pancreatic cancer involves avoiding the following risk factors:^[1]

Cessation of cigarette smoking:[edit | edit source]

• Cigarette smoking is considered to be the most significant modifiable risk factor.
• Smoking accounts for the incidence of pancreatic cancer in one-fourth of all cases.^[2][3]
• Nicotine in cigarettes stimulates tumorigenesis, increasing metastasis and resistance to treatment, hence impacting survival in patients.^[4]
• The risk of pancreatic cancer significantly falls with cessation of cigarette smoking.^{[2][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}
  • The risk of developing pancreatic cancer becomes almost equivalent to that of a nonsmoker after five years of cessation.^{[5][7][11][12]}

Regular exercise and healthy diet:[edit | edit source]

• Obesity is considered as a potential risk factor for pancreatic cancer.^[13][14][15]
• Regular exercise decreases the risk of pancreatic cancer as compared to individuals having a sedentary lifestyle.^[7][16]
• The American Cancer Society (ACS) has issued guidelines for diet and physical activity at both individual and community levels.^[17][18][19]
• Diet:
  • A healthy balanced diet doesn't exceed 2000 calories daily and includes the following:^{[8][10][11][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]}
    • Plenty of vegetables and fruits: blueberries, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes
    • Lean meat from fowl, fish and plant sources like nuts or whole grains
    • Monounsaturated fats help control insulin levels in type 2 diabetics
    • Tuna, mackerel, salmon, and sardine are major sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids due to anticancer properties
    • Food rich in B12, B6, Vitamin D and folate
    • A poor diet includes the presence of the following:^{[5][13][20][29][30]}
      • Food preservatives and additives
      • Smoked meat
      • Heavy alcohol use
      • High cholesterol
      • Red meat
      • Low consumption of fruits and vegetables
      • Saturated fatty acids
      • Processed foods
      • High-fat, high-protein diet
      • Chemicals known as heterocyclic amines, nitrates, and heme iron, found in foods, cause DNA damage and are carcinogenic

Slowing down the ageing process:[edit | edit source]

• Ageing is associated with the development of pancreatic cancer.^[12]
• Regular exercise and a healthy diet slows down the ageing process and decreases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.^[7]

References[edit | edit source]

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