Risk factors for pancreatic cancer: tobacco, alcohol and diet
The pancreatic cancer risk factors are now well known: alcohol, tobacco and food. Prevention of pancreatic cancer depends largely on our lifestyle!
Pancreatic Cancer: a rare cancer and poor prognosis
Pancreatic cancer is fortunately rare because it represents only 1.8% of cancers in France (16th place), he arrived in 6th place for mortality. The survival rate at 5 years is indeed between 1 and 9%, making it a particularly formidable cancer ...
This cancer is not inevitable, however, because when we look at the risk factors or rather the protective factors that help to avoid it, we realize that we can protect against this cancer.
Major risk factors for pancreatic cancer: tobacco and alcohol
The most important risk factors for pancreatic cancer are tobacco, which doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer, and excessive consumption of alcohol, which multiplied by more than 3. Tobacco is thus involved in a third cases ... As for the alcohol, it uses the pancreas and may be responsible for acute pancreatitis which further increases the risk of cancer. It is indeed two preventable risk factors.
Other risk factors for pancreatic cancer: diabetes and therefore food
Diabetes is another major risk factor for pancreatic cancer which it doubles the impact. Again, our lifestyle will influence more or less rapid onset of diabetes, the role of alcohol and tobacco is still found, as well as a diet high in animal fats or sugars.
Among dietary risk factors include too much red meat consumption was found in two recent studies, noting that poultry consumption is beneficial, that of fish and egg being ineffective.
Beneficial to prevent pancreatic cancer: lycopene, betacarotene ... and statins
Unlike some foods are beneficial, particularly those rich in lycopene and those that are rich in beta-carotene (beta-carotene and lycopene are part of the family of carotenoids, powerful natural antioxidants).
Foods rich in lycopene are tomato, watermelon, fresh apricots, pink grapefruit and blood orange. They can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer by 31%.
Foods rich in beta-carotene include carrots, but also oranges, apricots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and dark green vegetables such as spinach or parsley. They can in turn reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer by 43%.
Eating fruits and vegetables is largely beneficial as continues to be demonstrated. It may be noted that this protective effect of fruit and vegetables will be limited in smokers and the question can be asked to take over, in their case, vitamin supplements.
Finally, those who have too much cholesterol should know that besides diet that is good in preventing this type of cancer as we have just seen, statins (cholesterol lowering drugs reference) may reduce their risk of pancreatic cancer half. One more reason to take a tablet every day!