are pancreatic cancer patients mostly smokers?

Am very interested now. since my father is a smoker and 57. since my uncle smoked he had pc.. just want to know if pc patients are smokers..

Hi stillpraying.  

According to this study, yes, smoking is a major known risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

http://jjco.oxfordjournals.org/content/34/5/238.full

My dad smoked heavily for 60 years then stopped 'cold turkey' due to heart attack and was dx'd with pan can about 5 years later.  He lived with it for 9 months.

Check out the link here.  Hope some information helps you and guides you some in the future.  Good luck

I smoked for 30ish years off and on before my diagnosis, drank a lot too.

On Feb 21, 2013 9:45 PM stillpraying wrote:

Am very interested now. since my father is a smoker and 57. since my uncle smoked he had pc.. just want to know if pc patients are smokers..

A positive family history for pancreatic cancer or a genetic defect is often present in patients with an early onset of pancreatic cancer. 

Nearly all published reports show that exposure to tobacco products increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, usually with about a 2-fold increased risk, compared to non-smokers. The findings in studies performed in various countries are highly consistent. In the USA several case-controlled studies show a strong relationship between smoking and pancreatic cancer (8,9).  

I pulled this information from the link I posted.  The oncology article describes more fully how powerful the 'ingested tobacco products' affect the pancreas.  It's a good idea to not smoke. I also know how difficult it is to quit after witnessing my dad's attempts when a kid growing up.  Once again, carry on and good luck.  How is your uncle doing?

I never smoked, but do understand it increases the risk for pancreatic cancer.  I think you will find quite a few people who have been diagnosed with PC who never smoked or drank alcohol, and who have no family history of PC.   I have known quite a few people who smoked heavily for many years, and they did not end up with PC.  I hope you can convince your Dad to stop smoking because it causes lots of other health problems, and I sincerely hope your father does not develop PC.

On Feb 22, 2013 3:12 AM lolis33 wrote:

On Feb 21, 2013 9:45 PM stillpraying wrote:

Am very interested now. since my father is a smoker and 57. since my uncle smoked he had pc.. just want to know if pc patients are smokers..

A positive family history for pancreatic cancer or a genetic defect is often present in patients with an early onset of pancreatic cancer. 

Nearly all published reports show that exposure to tobacco products increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, usually with about a 2-fold increased risk, compared to non-smokers. The findings in studies performed in various countries are highly consistent. In the USA several case-controlled studies show a strong relationship between smoking and pancreatic cancer (8,9).  

I pulled this information from the link I posted.  The oncology article describes more fully how powerful the 'ingested tobacco products' affect the pancreas.  It's a good idea to not smoke. I also know how difficult it is to quit after witnessing my dad's attempts when a kid growing up.  Once again, carry on and good luck.  How is your uncle doing?

On Feb 22, 2013 2:56 AM tsmith wrote:

I smoked for 30ish years off and on before my diagnosis, drank a lot too.

On Feb 22, 2013 2:56 AM tsmith wrote:

I smoked for 30ish years off and on before my diagnosis, drank a lot too.

On Feb 23, 2013 10:36 PM stillpraying wrote:

On Feb 22, 2013 2:56 AM tsmith wrote:

I smoked for 30ish years off and on before my diagnosis, drank a lot too.

Thanks T smith.. I'm glad to read you are well... When were you diagnosed?

September 3, 2010. Now cancer free and livin life!