Consisting of three sections – a head, body and tail – the pancreas is a sizeable gland that is concealed by several large organs at the back of the stomach. Its functions include secreting insulin into the blood in order to control the blood glucose level, and making pancreatic juice, which breaks down carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the small intestine.

The principal causes of pancreatic cancer include smoking, being overweight, advanced age, hereditary pancreatitis, diabetes and genetics, but there are several suspected risks that have not been conclusively proved, such as eating too much processed meat, drinking more than three standard glasses of hard liquor a day, gum disease and even height.

Smoking is one cause of pancreatic cancer that is beyond doubt; it is blamed for between 25-30% of all afflictions. It is believed the carcinogens from nicotine damage the pancreas after entering the smoker’s blood. Researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Centre in Philadelphia discovered that nicotine promotes a type of protein called osteopontin, high levels of which have been found in pancreatic ductal carcinoma. Unfortunately, smokeless tobacco and so-called ‘light’ cigarettes don’t appear to decrease the risk of developing cancer.

Another prominent risk factor is obesity. Interestingly, research suggests that overweight teens and young adults have double the risk of developing pancreatic cancer when they’re older, as opposed to those who have a normal body weight. Some researchers believe that because obese people need to produce and circulate more insulin in order to maintain their blood sugar levels, they’re predisposed to pancreatic cancer. This is because the process – known as ‘hyperinsulinemia’ – may promote the creation and growth of cancer cells.

There are two types of pancreatitis (the long-term inflammation of the pancreas), both of which are linked to the development of pancreatic cancer. However, the risk presented by alcohol-induced pancreatitis is said to be far less certain than the risk from hereditary pancreatitis. As many as half the patients afflicted with hereditary pancreatitis will develop pancreatic cancer before they turn 75.

A fourth risk factor is diabetes, although there is considerable confusion about its development. Researchers are undecided about whether pancreatic cancer causes diabetes, or vice versa. This uncertainty is exacerbated by the fact that pancreatic cancer is usually only discovered late in its development; doctors are therefore unable to establish whether it was present before or after the onset of diabetes. Other researchers maintain that long-standing diabetes is a risk factor. Nonetheless, the two conditions are often inextricably intertwined.

A family history of pancreatic cancer can increase a person’s chance of contracting it by between 5-10%. Statistics show that having only one close relative (parent or sibling) with this cancer, can double the risk. The most common reason is a faulty gene which is passed down through the generations. Nonetheless, the overwhelming majority of cases are sporadic, with no genetic component.

Processed meat and alcohol abuse are also risk factors; worryingly, processed meat (specifically bacon, ham, hot dogs and sausages) has been named in two separate studies – in 2005 and 2012 – as a significant carcinogen. One study, for instance, suggests that eating only 50g of processed meat a day leads to a 20% increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Red meat and pork didn’t do much better, although poultry and dairy products represented no risk.

There are other unusual factors that are said to contribute to pancreatic cancer, such as height, the same physical attribute that appears to protect people from heart disease. Again, there is no clear indication why tall people are more vulnerable, although it is said that the hormones that promote height also lead to the dividing of cells, which in turn become abnormal and cancerous.

In 2007, it was reported that the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston had discovered a link between periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer. Researchers found that men with a history of periodontitis had a 64% increased risk of cancer; they surmised that nitrosamines and bacteria in the mouth of a periodontitis sufferer interact with chemicals in the stomach which promotes pancreatic cancer cells.

Needless to say, a tall, overweight man who feasts on processed meat, smokes, has diabetes, pancreatitis, poor oral hygiene and a close relative with pancreatic cancer, may never develop this dreaded disease. But, armed with the above knowledge, a sensible person would almost certainly think twice before taking a chance.