Cancer of the pancreas

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer in the USA. It is often fatal because symptoms usually do not appear until the disease is advanced and the cancer has spread throughout the body. Obese people are 72% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than people who have a normal body mass index. Another major risk factor for pancreatic cancer is cigarette smoking, which accounts for an estimated 25% of all cases.