Pancreatic cancer happens when malignant (cancerous) cells form in your pancreas. This is an organ located between your stomach and your spine, deep within your abdomen. Though relatively rare, pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States, behind lung and colorectal cancers and ahead of breast cancer .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299a34285f-0694-448a-b148-df129806fa2a Pancreatic cancer can be treated, but it has few detectable symptoms in earlier stages. It’s often not diagnosed until it has spread (metastasized) beyond the pancreas to the lymph nodes or other organs, or has become advanced with growth into surrounding tissues.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629767a952d-eae7-4d33-a924-e0ccdb8790f1
Causes Causes and Risk Factors of Pancreatic Cancer While the exact cause of pancreatic cancer isn’t clear, several factors can increase your risk. Some risk factors for pancreatic cancer are related to lifestyle choices and environmental factors and may be modifiable. Other risk factors for pancreatic cancer — such as age and race — can’t be changed. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e4046f5a-ddd8-41cb-9175-df6802cbca37e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629acf4656e-1a19-4c28-9214-c01a5972b06c Smoking About 25 percent of cases are thought to be caused by cigarette smoking. Being Overweight or Having Obesity People with obesity are about 20 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Type 2 Diabetes People who have had type 2 diabetes for five years or more have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Heavy Alcohol Use Heavy drinking can lead to pancreatitis , or inflammation of the pancreas, which is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Chronic Pancreatitis Pancreatitis is often tied to heavy drinking and smoking. Workplace Exposure to Certain Chemicals Chemicals commonly used in dry cleaning and metal working may increase the risk for pancreatic cancer. Inherited Genetic Syndromes These include certain hereditary forms of breast and ovarian cancer, melanoma , and pancreatitis, as well as two rare disorders — Lynch syndrome and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas (IPMN) This is a typically benign cyst on a pancreatic duct. It’s often found by CT scan and may turn cancerous.
Diagnosis How Is Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed? Pancreatic cancer is diagnosed using various tests, including:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629468ef827-228c-40cb-be58-f6f74d4f1963 Noninvasive Imaging Tests To get a better look at the pancreas, your doctor may order tests such as an ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) , or positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Endoscopic Ultrasound This test involves inserting a thin, flexible tube into the mouth, through the digestive tract, and into the small intestine, which is close to the pancreas. A probe at the end of the endoscope uses sound waves to create an image of the pancreas that may reveal cancer. Biopsy Your doctor may remove a small sample of tissue and examine it under a microscope to see if it contains cancerous cells. This is typically done during an endoscopic ultrasound but can also be performed by inserting a needle through the skin and into the pancreas. Blood Tests Blood tests can identify certain proteins — tumor markers shed by cancer cells that can help determine what type of pancreatic cancer you have and what treatment approach is likely to work best. Once pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, it’s staged. This involves assigning a value to how far the cancer has advanced. Staging is often measured in numbers 0 to 4. The lowest stage, stage 0, means only abnormal cells are present in the pancreatic lining. There’s a chance these cells could become cancerous. Stage 0 is often referred to as carcinoma in situ. The highest stage, stage 4, means the cancer has spread to distant organs.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d60f0ebd-fc26-4899-b7c5-42bfba3cedec
Additional reporting by Christina Frank .
Symptoms Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic cancer is often called a “silent killer,” because symptoms may not develop right away or be obvious when they do emerge. Screening tests are sometimes recommended in people with a family history of pancreatic cancer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629576b96b0-2bcc-4b7b-8009-c66984905a5e As tumors grow, many of the pancreatic cancer symptoms that develop can mimic symptoms of other medical conditions. These can include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762958e98203-cc72-418d-8840-0d96499bd7fee60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629418f08d6-097a-42a8-8c17-04f328113e1b Bloating and gas Gastrointestinal discomfort or burning sensation in the stomach Foul-smelling diarrhea or greasy, floating stools Nausea or vomiting Weakness or fatigue Loss of appetite Unintended weight loss Upper back or upper abdomen pain Swelling in an arm or leg Signs of jaundice , like yellowing skin and eyes and dark urine Chills and sweats Fever Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can vary depending on how advanced the cancer is. People often have no symptoms at all in the early stages.
Support Support for People With Pancreatic Cancer Some of the organizations that offer online or in-person support groups for pancreatic cancer patients, survivors, and families include: The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan) is a nationwide organization dedicated to patient education and advocacy. PanCan offers an up-to-date list of in-person pancreatic cancer support groups, as well as online support services. The American Cancer Society offers in-person support groups across the country, as well as online communities like the Cancer Survivors Network , which provides discussion boards and live chats for patients, survivors, and caregivers. CancerCare is a national organization offering free emotional and practical support for cancer patients and their families. Online and in-person support groups, run by an oncology social worker, are available to people with pancreatic cancer and their loved ones.
Treatment Treatment Options for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment options for pancreatic cancer depend on the cancer stage and are also influenced by a patient’s age, overall health, and personal preferences. Pancreatic cancer may be treated by one or a combination of interventions.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292a297eaf-47ed-45b4-a943-27e68a4dc3af Surgery Fewer than 1 in 5 cases of pancreatic cancer are caught when the cancer is confined to the pancreas, and of those, not all can be treated with surgery alone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e8ad57dc-4cd2-46ba-8d01-4d38a1c31568 The main types of surgery are a Whipple procedure or a pancreatectomy. In a Whipple procedure, the surgeon removes the head of the pancreas, a part of the small intestine called the duodenum, and the gallbladder and bile duct. The surgeon then reconnects the digestive tract and biliary system.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297e874a97-0dff-40ac-8623-b22d96d8456f A pancreatectomy is the removal of part or all of the pancreas.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e8ad57dc-4cd2-46ba-8d01-4d38a1c31568 Surgery may be followed or preceded by chemotherapy and radiation to reduce the risk of recurrence, or preceded by these interventions to shrink the tumor before attempting to remove it. Risks of surgery can include bleeding, digestive problems, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes resulting from the loss of insulin production in the pancreas.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f286029f-6c97-48ad-bfff-1c04e5d85af7 Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment (meaning it affects the entire body) in which drugs designed to kill cancer cells are delivered into the bloodstream intravenously. Chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for pancreatic cancer and may be used in conjunction with radiation, surgery, and other treatments.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299ced24ef-1ef0-4a32-b0ce-5cf31cdaf060 For people healthy enough to receive a combination, two or more chemotherapy drugs are typically given together. The most common chemotherapy drugs approved to treat pancreatic cancer include gemcitabine, albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane), fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b9a979d0-b767-4336-a052-18ee55f290cd Side effects of chemotherapy may include nausea and vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores, nerve pain, and infections, among others.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299ced24ef-1ef0-4a32-b0ce-5cf31cdaf060 Radiation With radiation therapy , a machine delivers high-energy rays to areas of the body where cancer has been found. These rays can help stop cancer cells from continuing to grow and spread. External beam radiation therapy is usually given five days a week for two to five weeks. Each treatment lasts only a few minutes and may be used in conjunction with other therapies for pancreatic cancer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294e8817a4-58f7-4a2a-b3d4-e77921d40f00 External beam radiation is the most common type of radiation used to treat pancreatic cancer. Radiation side effects can include fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294e8817a4-58f7-4a2a-b3d4-e77921d40f00 Tumor Treating Fields Optune Pax is a noninvasive device that uses alternating electrical fields, or tumor treating fields, to slow cancer cell growth. It uses electrical signals to disrupt the rapid cell division process that’s typical in cancer cells and limit harm to healthy cells.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629283500df-0b9b-4c06-836d-220cbe0f4c57 These electrical signals are delivered through adhesive patches placed on your abdomen as appropriate. Unlike other treatments given in a doctor’s office, this device is designed to be worn throughout the day. It was FDA-approved in early 2026 to treat pancreatic cancer that hasn’t spread. A clinical study showed that patients who wore this device along with following a chemotherapy treatment plan lived an average of two months longer than those who got chemotherapy alone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629283500df-0b9b-4c06-836d-220cbe0f4c57 Targeted Therapy Targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer target specific genes or proteins in certain tumors with little to no damage to healthy cells. They can be given via injection, orally, or intravenously. Drugs in this category approved for exocrine pancreatic tumors include fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu), sotorasib (Lumakras), and zenocutuzumab-zbco (Bizengri).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629de9eca13-c187-496e-842f-35c03ec021d9 The targeted therapies approved for neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors are everolimus (Afinitor) and sunitinib (Sutent).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629de9eca13-c187-496e-842f-35c03ec021d9 Olaparib (Lynparza) can be useful for some people with hereditary cancer genes.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629de9eca13-c187-496e-842f-35c03ec021d9 In August 2026, the FDA approved daraxonrasib (Rasonque) for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer in adults who have already received one systemic therapy or are not candidates for combination systemic therapy.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291357278f-15c6-44dc-b04d-57bf034c267d Because targeted therapies are more specific for cancer cells, they often cause fewer side effects than other treatments. When side effects do occur, they may include nausea, vomiting, rashes, and lowered blood cell counts. Side effects differ depending on the patient and the specific drug.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629de9eca13-c187-496e-842f-35c03ec021d9 Immunotherapy Immunotherapy, delivered intravenously or as an oral medication, enhances the immune system’s ability to attack cancer. This method can be effective for a minority of patients whose cancers have a defective cellular repair system. Currently, the only FDA-approved immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer are dostarlimab (Jemperli) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ca86182a-b87b-4b78-97c1-8f0c49aea6c6 Medication side effects can include skin rashes and other signs of an overactive immune system.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629809c8edd-74c2-46e7-8c54-b3dc2fb5139e
Prognosis Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis The length of time a person lives after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer depends on the stage of the cancer; whether the tumor is resectable, borderline, or nonresectable; treatment options; and other factors. While overall survival rates are lower than those of other cancers, they are gradually increasing.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629632fb34f-2dc0-4496-8958-631b5b2c0b0c When pancreatic cancer is caught early, the five-year survival rate for localized tumors (those that haven’t spread to surrounding tissue and organs) is about 44 percent. The survival rate drops significantly for more-advanced cancers.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629767a952d-eae7-4d33-a924-e0ccdb8790f1 Overall, the five-year survival rate is 13 percent.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629767a952d-eae7-4d33-a924-e0ccdb8790f1
Types Types of Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic tumors are either exocrine or neuroendocrine (endocrine) tumors. Knowing the type of tumor is important because each type behaves differently and responds to different treatments. Exocrine Pancreatic Tumors The vast majority (more than 90 percent) of pancreatic cancers are exocrine tumors. These occur in the exocrine component of the pancreas , which is made up of ducts and small sacs at the ends of the ducts. These produce enzymes that help the body break down and digest food — especially fats — in the small intestine.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629528ba316-3990-46ed-adcc-aa7a66fac87f The most common type of exocrine pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma , a type of cancer that forms in mucus-secreting gland cells.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629528ba316-3990-46ed-adcc-aa7a66fac87f Other less common exocrine cancers include adenosquamous carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, signet ring cell carcinomas, acinar cell carcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas, and undifferentiated carcinomas with giant cells.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f0a60b8a-9ce7-4a6e-bd87-9324fba3d4a6 Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Tumors Less than 10 percent of pancreatic cancers are neuroendocrine tumors (pancreatic NETs or PNETs), also called islet cell tumors. These often grow more slowly than exocrine tumors.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299a34285f-0694-448a-b148-df129806fa2a The endocrine component of the pancreas is made up of clumps of cells located throughout the organ. These secrete hormones that play various roles in regulating the body’s metabolism . One of the most critical of these hormones is insulin , which helps control blood glucose levels.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762947a95deb-644d-4637-84d0-7e0f77363ffa
Prevention Prevention of Pancreatic Cancer While there isn’t a specific way to avoid pancreatic cancer altogether, you can take some steps to lower your risk. These include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f4bccd59-1d32-4829-8c12-dc797adb5103 If you smoke, get help quitting. Smoking is considered the most significant risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Stay at a healthy weight. If you are overweight or have obesity, weight loss can lower your risk of pancreatic cancer. Avoid drinking alcohol. Heavy alcohol use is linked to pancreatic cancer; it’s also tied to a condition known as chronic pancreatitis, a known risk factor for the disease. Ask your doctor about screening. For patients with inherited familial cancer genes such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, or a benign pancreatic nodule, follow your doctor’s advice on getting recommended cancer screening tests.
Resources We Trust Mayo Clinic: Identifying Inherited Gene Mutations in Pancreatic Cancer Can Lead to Targeted Therapies, Better Survival Cleveland Clinic: Pancreatic Cancer Surgery Improvements National Cancer Institute: Pancreatic Cancer – Patient Johns Hopkins Medicine: Causes and Risk Factors Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
