In a new survey, over half of adults under 50 said they wouldn't recognize the early warning signs of pancreatic cancer

The 3 Biggest Misconceptions About Pancreatic Cancer—Knowing These Could Save Your Life Experts reveal these early warning signs and how you can lower your risk of pancreatic cancer

In a new survey, over half of adults under 50 said they wouldn't recognize the early warning signs of pancreatic cancer—a rare but deadly disease on the rise

A new survey found that over half of adults under age 50 said they wouldn’t recognize early signs of pancreatic cancer, and a third of respondents believe only older adults are at risk for the disease.
The rates of early-onset pancreatic cancer cases in people under 50 are actually on the rise, and only 13% of patients survive five years after their diagnosis.
With the rise in cases and the deadly nature of the disease, experts share the early warning signs of pancreatic cancer and how you can lower your risk.

Many Americans believe misconceptions about pancreatic cancer risk that could be putting their health in danger, according to a new survey.

The new survey, conducted by The Ohio State University, found that 53% of adults under age 50 said they wouldn’t recognize early signs of pancreatic cancer. A third of respondents believe only older adults are at risk for the disease, and 37% think there’s nothing they can do to lower their chance of getting pancreatic cancer.

Just over 1,000 people were polled for the survey, which was conducted in early October.

Pancreatic cancer affects the pancreas, an organ that sits behind the stomach and aids in digestion. It’s considered rare, but pancreatic cancer often has a dire prognosis—the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 13%.

However, the general lack of knowledge about pancreatic cancer risk is worrisome, especially given that rates of early-onset cancer—cases in people under 50—are on the rise.

“Pancreatic cancer rates...have been rising by about 1% annually, and we are seeing this disease in people who are in their 40s much more regularly. This is a concerning trend, and one for which research is needed to learn why,” Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate, PhD, co-leader of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James, said in a press release.

With this increase in cases, here’s what experts had to say about common pancreatic cancer misconceptions, plus the information you need to know to make sure you’re staying on top of your risk.

Why Is Pancreatic Cancer So Deadly?

Spotting Early Warning Signs of Pancreatic Cancer

In the new survey, over half of adults under 50 said they didn’t know early warning signs of pancreatic cancer.

This could be because—unlike other cancers such as breast or skin—the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be hard to recognize.

Most cases of pancreatic cancer don’t cause any symptoms until the disease is locally advanced or metastatic, meaning the cancer has spread to another part of the body, Marcovalerio Melis, MD, surgical oncologist at Northwell Health Lenox Hill Hospital, told Health.

And by the time those symptoms do show up, they tend to be very non-specific, he said. Signs of pancreatic cancer include abdominal or back pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, and new-onset diabetes.

“Tumors in the body and tail of the pancreas often cause nonspecific abdominal symptoms, with patients experiencing fatigue and weight loss,” added Timothy Donahue, MD, surgical director of the Agi Hirshberg Center for Pancreatic Diseases at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In later stages of pancreatic cancer, people might also develop jaundice—yellowing of the skin and eyes—along with dark urine, pale stool, and itchy skin. This jaundice can happen when tumors form in the head of the pancreas, which can block the bile duct, Donahue told Health.

If someone thinks they might be experiencing jaundice, they should seek medical treatment immediately.

But it can be more challenging to decide when to see a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing these more non-specific symptoms.

“Those are symptoms that many people experience at some point during their life,” said Melis. “More often than not, those symptoms are the result of a benign process.”

But if the symptoms last longer than two to three months, people should seek medical attention and bring the issue up with their doctor, he recommended.

Younger People Have a Small, But Rising, Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

According to the survey, about a third of people think that only elderly people are at risk for pancreatic cancer.

The disease is certainly more of a concern for older people—on average, people are 70 at the time of diagnosis. About 90% of cases are diagnosed in people over 55, Melis said, and two-thirds of pancreatic cancer mortalities occur in those aged 65 years and older.

“The disease remains relatively uncommon in individuals under 45,” he explained.

Despite this, there is a concerning trend of younger people getting diagnosed more frequently.

“In the last decade, a greater increase in pancreatic cancer incidence has been observed among younger adults than in the other age groups, especially those aged 15 to 34 years,” said Melis.

Lifestyle factors such as obesity and alcohol use among younger generations, as well as environmental exposures and dietary changes, may all be contributing to this trend, he said.

“With only a minor increase in survival and a rising incidence, it is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. within five years,” said Donahue.

Younger Adults Are Being Diagnosed With Cancer More Than Ever Before—Here's What to Know

How to Lower Your Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

Though 37% of people think there’s nothing they can do to lower their risk of pancreatic cancer, experts stress that this isn’t the case.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 10% of pancreatic cancer cases are connected to inherited gene mutations—these include BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, and mutations associated with Lynch syndrome and familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome (FAMMM).

People often undergo genetic testing and counseling once they’ve been diagnosed with the disease.

However, aside from these genetic risks, a large proportion of pancreatic cancer cases are connected to risk factors that people can change, Melis said. There are four risk factors in particular to pay attention to:

Smoking. The risk of developing pancreatic cancer is twice as high in people who smoke as compared to those who don’t. But “the good news is that quitting smoking can significantly decrease the risk, such that 10 to 20 years after smoking cessation, the risk of pancreatic cancer in former smokers returns to that [of] never smokers,” said Melis.
Diabetes. Having diabetes long-term has been linked to a 1.5- to two-fold increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer. “While not all the forms of diabetes can be prevented, a healthy diet and lifestyle may certainly prevent—and sometimes even revert—the onset of type 2 diabetes,” Melis explained.
High body mass index (BMI) or weight. “The relative risk of pancreatic cancer in individuals with a BMI [over] 30 kg/m² is 1.72 compared with individuals with a BMI [under] 23 kg/m² after controlling for the effects of age, smoking, and diabetes,” Melis said. Because of this, people should do their best to maintain a healthy weight. Plus, with processed foods tied to higher cancer incidence in general, people should also opt for a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, he recommended.
Alcohol consumption. More research on the connection between alcohol and cancer is still ongoing. However, Melis said growing evidence suggests that alcohol intake, particularly heavy alcohol intake, is associated with pancreatic cancer risk. “Notably, heavy alcohol consumption is also associated with pancreatitis, also a possible risk factor for pancreatic cancer,” he said.