This presentation tackles the topic of prevention of pancreatic cancer Presentation provides critical information but should be combined with knowledge of the presenter since it's meant for proper presentating and not read-only. Use freely to study or present.

1. Prevention in
pancreatic cancer
Jan Stanislav Dorosz
M1770

2. Prevention
Prevention can be classified into 3 main groups:
1. Primary (those preventive measures that prevent the onset of illness or injury before the disease process
begins)
- Avoidance of tobacco (25-29% of PDA, 100% increased risk)
- Maintaining healthy body weight (20-50% increased risk)
- Consuming alcohol in moderate manner (chronic pancreatitis is a major risk factor for PC)
- Regular physical activity (12-37% decreased risk)
- Healthy diet (similar to that in Colorectal cancer prevention)
1. Secondary (those preventive measures that lead to early diagnosis and prompt treatment of a disease)
- Acknowledging familial/hereditary and underlying diseases (PC, DM2, hyperglycemia)
- Screening/Imagining
- Not disregarding signs and symptoms
1. Tertiary (those preventive measures are aimed at rehabilitation following significant illness)
- Cessation of smoking after diagnosed PC (tobacco consumption significantly worsens evolution and
outcome of PC) Nicotine can stimulate PC tumour growth making cancer more metastatic and less
responsive to therapy.

3. Diet - Contraindicated foods
Avoiding processed meats and other products, especially red meat or sweets. Additionally, frying,
baking and other methods of meat preparation in high temperatures increases amount of harmful
elements in the food (heterocyclic amines)
Avoidance of other harmful carcinogenic agents (amines, nitrates, heme iron)
- Smoked food, canned tuna, cheese or spicy flavoured snacks, chocolate, flavoured drinks etc.
- Processed food
- Red meat
- Sweets
- Smoked meats/food
- Canned foods (tuna)
- Cheese or spicy flavoured snacks (chips, nuts etc.)
- Chocolates
- Flavoured drinks (including energy drinks, soda drinks, artificial juices)
- Other foods high in heterocyclic amines, amines and nitrates

4. Diet - Indicated foods
Promoting consumption of healthy, unprocessed, plant and fish products like: deep ocean fish (as
source of long-chain omega 3 fatty acids, which help to maintain anti-inflammatory processes as well
as having anticancer properties).
Keeping caloric balance below 2000 kcal/per day (on average, should be counted individually)
- Salmon, mackerel, sardine, tuna in particular (omega 3 fatty acids source)
- Natural, “bio” vegetables
- Natural, “bio” fruits
- Unprocessed products
- Poultry
- Fish
- Low-fat dairy products

5. Habits/behaviours
Avoid:
- Cessation of tobacco use
Tobacco, apart from carcinogenic property increases risk of numerous diseases and is generally very
harmful to organism.
5 years after cessation of tobacco use the risk of PC is as in general population
- No/Moderate alcohol use
Increased alcohol consumption apart from generally toxic and harmful action may lead to chronic
pancreatitis which is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
Additionally all alcohols are carcinogenic when consumed in excessive amount
Promote:
- Increased physical activity, doing sports (especially cardiovascular exercises)
Healthy and trained body decreases risk of obesity based diseases as well as DM2 appearance
- Maintaining healthy body weight and BMI

6. Others
Additionally, people working in toxic/harmful environments (i.e. exposure to chemicals
in workplace) should seek methods and means of personal protection.
Including:
- PPE (Personal Protection Equipment)
FFP3 masks or filtered/autonomous air circulation devices, gloves, protective uniforms
- OHS (Occupational Safety and Health)
Personal hygiene and awareness when working with chemicals (decontamination etc.)
- Regular check-ups for early occupational diseases detection

7. Screening/imagining
Regular screening of people of both sexes after age of 50.
Regular screening of people with predisposition (hereditary, genetic)
CT, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, MRI, endoscopic US are screening
methods of choice.
If cancer is detected then US guided biopsy is required.

8. Hereditary/Genetic risks
People who have certain diseases in family (parents, grandparents) are at increased risk of
developing pancreatic cancer and should get regularly checked.
- Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (BRCA1, BRCA2 gene mutations)
- Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome (p16, CDKN2A
gene mutations)
- Familial pancreatitis (PRSS1 gene mutations)
- Lynch syndrome (colorectal - MLH1, MSH2 gene defects)
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (STK11 gene defects)
- Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL gene mutations)

9. References
1. US National Library of Medicine, 10.12.2020,
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5385470/>
2. American Cancer Society, 10.12.2020, <https://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreatic-
cancer/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html>
3. Stanford Healthcare, 10.12.2020, <https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-
conditions/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/pancreatic-cancer-prevention.html

10. Thank you