Healthy Lifestyle Helps Prevent 4 in 10 Pancreatic Cancers

Four in ten pancreatic cancers, one of the deadliest forms of cancer, can be prevented by adopting simple changes in lifestyle.

The  Cancer Research UK says adopting healthy strategies like weight reduction and quitting smoking can help fight pancreatic cancer.  According to reports, yearly 8,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United Kingdom and the survival rate is extremely low, with just 3 percent surviving the disease five years after diagnosis.

Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK's director of early diagnosis said, "Cancer is a complex set of diseases. For some, lifestyle can play an important role, and is one aspect of the disease that we have some control over. Pancreatic cancer is a disease with poor outcomes and is less well understood, so it's important that we talk about the things people can do to stack the odds in their favour and reduce their risk."

Studies conducted earlier provide evidence that a few pancreatic cancers are associated with  being overweight as well as smoking.  Considering this, the researchers estimate that four in ten pancreatic cancers can be avoided. It is also estimated that by 2030, pancreatic cancer will become the second most deadly cancer in the U.S.

Professor Jeff Evans, a clinician and scientist at Cancer Research UK's Beatson Institute in Glasgow, said: "Survival for this disease remains shockingly low and this has to change. There's an urgent need to tackle pancreatic cancer head on by building up an armoury of effective new treatments - and developing ways to diagnose this disease sooner, when surgery is more effective. At the same time it's important to remember that people can take steps to reduce their risk of developing pancreatic and other cancers, by not smoking and by keeping a healthy weight, especially if you are prone to carrying too much around your middle."

According to Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK chief Executive, unlike other cancers, pancreatic cancer is rarely in the spotlight and the outcome of this cancer is very poor. 

The finding is documented in the British Journal of Cancer.