Question

How does cigarette smoking affect the risk for pancreatic cancer?

Answer 1

Cigarette smoking is one controllable risk factor for pancreatic cancer. People who smoke are about twice as likely as nonsmokers to get pancreatic cancer.

Fortunately, the reverse is also true. After quitting smoking, the risk for pancreatic cancer steadily falls, eventually falling to the same risk as a nonsmoker after 10 to 15 years.