Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA, a substance present in every cell. In most cases, when the DNA becomes damaged, the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, however, the DNA is not repaired and the abnormal cells can reproduce.  Research has shown that people with pancreatic cancer have mutations or deletions on certain genes, although the relationship between these DNA changes and the development of cancer is not well understood. In other cases, certain factors appear to increase an individual’s risk of developing pancreatic cancer. These risk factors include:

• Age. Pancreatic cancer almost always occurs in people older than 55. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), more than 70 percent of pancreatic cancer patients are older than 65.
  
  
• Race and ethnicity. African Americans and Ashkenazi Jews are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than other populations. African Americans are 40 to 50 percent more likely than white people to develop pancreatic cancer.
  
  
• Tobacco use. This is the greatest controllable risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Heavy cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop pancreatic cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Smoking is linked to 20 to 30 percent of pancreatic cancer cases. Smokers who quit reduce their risk of developing the disease.
  
  
• Heredity. Certain inherited diseases indicate a higher possibility for a patient to develop pancreatic cancer. Studies have shown that people with hereditary predispositions are even more likely to develop pancreatic cancer if they also smoke. Patients with hereditary risk factors also develop pancreatic cancer at younger age. Individuals whose parents or siblings had pancreatic cancer are three times more likely to develop the disease. Several rare inherited conditions may predispose a person to pancreatic cancer. These include familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC). In addition, people with the BRCA2 gene mutation, which increases the risk for breast cancer, may also face an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
  
  
• Diet. Diets high in animal fat and cholesterol and low in fruits and cruciferous vegetables (those in the cabbage and broccoli family) are associated with increased incidence of cancer. Recent studies show that diets high in red meat may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
  
  
• Obesity. Obese people are at greater risk for pancreatic cancer.
  
  
• Diabetes. Patients with diabetes are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer in the first five years after diabetes diagnosis, according to the ACS. When the cancer invades the pancreas, it can affect the production of insulin and glucagon. Imbalances in these hormones can produce diabetes.
  
  
• Chronic pancreatitis. A painful inflammation of the pancreas usually caused by long-term use of alcohol and smoking. This condition is associated with a slightly higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
  
  
• Chemical exposure. People who work with gasoline and other petroleum compounds are at higher risk for developing pancreatic cancer. Also, pesticides and coal products have been associated with this disease.
  
  
• Gastrointestinal conditions. Stomach infections with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, which causes most peptic ulcers, may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. There is also an increased risk of pancreatic cancer for patients who have undergone surgery for peptic ulcers. The risk increased depending on the elapsed time since the surgery (i.e., the older the surgery, the greater the risk).