Tobacco, alcohol, processed meat, etc.
The pancreas is an organ that secretes digestive enzymes for digestion of food and hormones such as insulin. It is located behind the stomach and has a long structure of about 20 cm. Pancreatic cancer often occurs in the head of the pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer is a unique cancer among ‘silent cancers’ in which symptoms do not appear until the cancer is advanced. Because it is far from the spine, which is a bundle of nerves, pain does not occur well before cancer spreads. Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include △jaundice △unexplained weight loss △loss of appetite △abdominal pain △pruritus. 5-10% of pancreatic cancer patients have a genetic predisposition, but lifestyle is also important. The American health and nutrition information media ‘It’s Not That’ introduced bad factors that cause pancreatic cancer.
△ Tobacco
Smoking accounts for about 25% of the causes of pancreatic cancer. Several studies have shown that smokers have a two to ten times higher risk of pancreatic cancer than non-smokers. Stop smoking to prevent pancreatic cancer. Cigars and smokeless tobacco should also be avoided.
△Alcohol
When alcohol enters the body, it turns into acetaldehyde, which damages DNA. Cells try to repair the damage, and errors in the process result in tumors. Acetaldehyde is a class 1 carcinogen designated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization (WHO). It can cause not only pancreatic cancer, but also oral cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, rectal cancer, and breast cancer.
△ obesity
According to the National Cancer Institute, obese people have a 45% higher risk of pancreatic cancer compared to people of normal weight. In particular, people who have gained weight rapidly as adults and people whose waist circumference is thick compared to their body mass index should be careful. In order to overcome obesity, regular exercise is necessary along with diet control.
Eating too much processed meat
The high incidence of pancreatic cancer in Korea is largely influenced by westernized eating habits. Cut down on meat and increase the proportion of fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating processed meats, especially sausages and bacon. As a result of analyzing 12 papers, it was found that the risk of pancreatic cancer increased by 19% for every 50g of processed meat eaten daily.
