Okay, so you were shocked when Access Hollywood reported that Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Understandable. If a 56-year-old celebrity can have it, the possibility of getting such a rare illness no longer seems improbable, right? Well, the truth is that your chance is incredibly small: the disease accounts for only two percent of all cancers worldwide, yet the sheer lethality of this specific form is definitely worth your attention. Consider this: more than 96 percent of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will not live past five years.

“There is a reason we call it the ‘silent killer’,” says Dr. Demetrius Loukas, a medical oncologist at Texas Oncology. “Most patients have only six months to live after symptoms appear.”

New cases practically equal the death rate, revealing just how deadly the diagnosis can be. And according to new research, it seems the link to pancreatic cancer may be closer to home than you think. It could have a lot to do with how much and how frequently you drink, whether or not you smoke and how much junk food you eat.


BAN BINGING

Obviously, we have no choice but to play the genetic cards dealt us, but there are ways to stay in the game longer. Research is suggesting that Swayze may have played his hand poorly by drinking excessively. Heavy alcohol consumption is considered carcinogenic by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, however, up until recently heavy drinkers were thought to be only at greater risk for developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach. Emerging epidemiologic evidence has also linked alcohol intake to breast and colon tumors. It now appears the pancreas, the pear-shaped organ that secretes digestive enzymes and metabolic hormones, is next on the list.

You’re probably most familiar with the pancreas as a source of insulin and glucagon, two hormones that regulate your blood sugar. In fact, population studies suggest that type 2 diabetics are predisposed to pancreatic cancer because of their inefficient insulin response. Although excessive alcohol can exacerbate diabetes, your nightcap will not directly cause it; and the same is true for pancreatic cancer. However, this isn’t a green light for a Saturday night binge. Heavy drinking can easily inflame the pancreas and over time, may lead to chronic pancreatitis, the severity of which can raise pancreatic cancer risk by as much as 20-fold. And regardless if cancer is in your cards, the effects of chronic pancreatic inflammation are irreversible.

While all cancers are partly determined by genetics, the intrinsic factors of pancreatic cancer are actually quite specific. They include disease heredity, African American descent, and age. Fortunately, even if your hand is showing these three cards, your risk only increases by 15 percent – that is unless you are already playing a risky game.


THE BIG GAMBLE

You’ve heard it before: smoking causes cancer. And it doesn’t just affect the lungs— cigarette smoke is the strongest risk factor known to cause pancreatic cancer. Dr. Loukas emphasizes that lighting up is worse then hitting the bottle. “There is a direct relationship between smoking and pancreatic cancer,” says Loukas. “You can’t say that about alcohol.”

A study done at the European Institute of Oncology in Italy found that smokers were diagnosed with pancreatitis and type 2 diabetes at a significantly younger age than their fellow non-smokers. This deadly duo is the quickest way to pancreatic cancer and is further exacerbated by dietary choices.
Results from a study conducted in Sweden have found an association between pancreatic cancer and junk food consumption. Not to mention, if your typical meal tends to be high in fat or caters to your sweet tooth, any significant extra weight adds to this risk. Meat-lovers might want to limit their Salt Lick trips; barbecue tends to produce a lot of those cancer-causing carcinogens.

Can’t give up brisket and beer? Increase your fruit and veggie intake. The polyphenols and flavonoids in these raw foods act as antioxidants to counteract the harmful by-products from alcohol and red meat. Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco found that the best pancreatic-cancer-fighters include yams, corn, carrots, and onions.

You don’t need to completely swear off happy hour to swear off pancreatic cancer. Although excessive boozin’ can be destructive, numerous studies suggest that a drink a day keeps the cardiologist away. Moderate alcohol consumption can protect against heart disease by raising HDL (good) cholesterol, reducing artery plaque, and even slightly decreasing blood pressure. Men should limit intake to no more than two drinks a day and women should stick to one. Don’t fill your mug to the brim; one drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, four ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled liquor.


ARE THE ODDS IN YOUR FAVOR?

Check out the percentage breakdown of pancreatic cancer risk factors:

Dietary Factors*: 35%
Obesity: 15%
Smoking: 25%
Genetics: 15%
Pancreatitis and others: 10%

Source: Go, Vay Liang W., et al. (2005). “Alcohol and pancreatic cancer.” Alcohol, 35: 205.