Illness that Claimed Steve Jobs Kills Thousands

As we mourn the loss of visionary Steve Jobs, some of the attention has begun to turn toward the form of cancer that claimed his life.

It might come as a surprise to some that pancreatic cancer is common, physicians say.

According to information by the American Cancer Society and released by Loma Linda University Medical Center, Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the U.S.  About 44,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer and about 38,000 deaths were expected this year alone.

Pancreatic cancer occurs when malignant cells grow out of control, Loma Linda officials said.

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:

• Age - most pancreatic cancer occurs in people over the age of 45.
• Smoking - heavy cigarette smokers are two or three times more likely than non-smokers to develop pancreatic cancer.
• Obesity and physical inactivity - pancreatic cancer is more common in people who are very overweight and in people who don't get much physical activity.
• Diabetes - pancreatic cancer occurs more often in people who have diabetes than in those who do not.
• Gender - more men than women are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• Race - African-Americans are more likely than Asians, Hispanics, or Caucasians to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• Family history - the risk for developing pancreatic cancer is higher if a person's mother, father, or a sibling had the disease.
• Cirrhosis of the liver - people with cirrhosis have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Workplace exposures - exposure to occupational pesticides, dyes, and chemicals used in the metal industry may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Some genetic syndromes - certain inherited gene mutations, such as in the BRAC2 gene, increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Chronic pancreatitis - long-term inflammation of the pancreas has been linked with increased risk for pancreatic cancer.

For more information on pancreatic cancer visit the Loma Linda University Medical Center website.