People who drank soda at least twice a day faced a 1.93-fold higher risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a study. Managing risk factors matters because symptoms appear late and the five-year survival rate stands at just 17%.
South Korea recorded 9,748 pancreatic cancer patients in 2023, the eighth-highest total among all cancers, according to national cancer registry statistics from the Korea Central Cancer Registry at the National Cancer Center, released on the 24th. The five-year relative survival rate for patients diagnosed between 2019 and 2023 was 17.0%, less than a quarter of the 73.7% average across all cancers.
Overseas studies examining the link between diet and pancreatic cancer have continued to emerge. Researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institute analyzed 11 prospective studies covering about 2.3 million people, including 6,643 pancreatic cancer cases, and reported in the British Journal of Cancer that each additional 50 grams of processed meat consumed daily raised the risk by 1.19 times. For red meat, an additional 120 grams a day was associated with a 1.13-fold risk, though the finding was not statistically significant.
Sweet drinks and blood sugar are also cited as variables. In a study by the same team that tracked 77,797 Swedish adults with no history of cancer or diabetes for an average of 7.2 years, those who drank soda at least twice a day faced 1.93 times the risk of those who did not.
Plant-based diets are not automatically safe either. In a 2023 study that followed 101,748 U.S. adults for an average of 8.86 years, the group that ate large amounts of healthy plant-based foods showed lower risk, while the group that ate large amounts of unhealthy plant-based foods such as refined grains and sugars showed a 1.38-fold higher risk. The findings indicate that outcomes differ depending on which plant-based foods are eaten.
The figures ranging from 1.1 to 1.9 times are relative risks, and do not mean an individual's probability of developing the disease rises by that much. The American Cancer Society (ACS) also says there is no sure way to prevent pancreatic cancer. Korean specialists point to smoking as the leading risk factor, with smoking-related cases known to account for about 20% of the total. Diabetes, chronic pancreatitis and obesity with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher are also risk factors.
Lifestyle Habits That Lower Pancreatic Cancer Risk: More Vegetables and Whole Grains, Less Processed Meat and Sweet Drinks
The ACS recommends maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular physical activity and eating a diet centered on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while limiting red meat, processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages and highly processed foods. Dietary fiber from vegetables, whole grains and legumes slows the rise in blood sugar after meals and increases feelings of fullness, which also helps with weight control.
One approach is to replace meat with fish, poultry, tofu or legumes, and to swap sweet drinks for water or unsweetened beverages. Experts advise that reviewing what and how often one normally eats, and changing eating habits for the long term, is more realistic than cutting out a single food.
People with two or more pancreatic cancer patients among immediate family members should consult a specialist to determine whether screening is needed. Those with diabetes or chronic pancreatitis should also check their pancreatic cancer risk regularly.
Ultimately, the realistic response is to cut back on processed meat and sweet drinks while quitting smoking and managing weight and blood sugar. Because the cancer is difficult to detect early, an approach that reduces risk factors is needed, rather than relying on diet alone.
