Is pancreatic cancer a certain death?

Question

Also...is it genetical? My grandmother had it, so could my mother, or I myself, get it? Is it likely we will?

Answer 1

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly types of cancer because the pancreas can quickly spread cancer cells all over the body. If people are lucky enough to detect the cancer before it spreads, the cancer can be treated, but unfortunately, symptoms don't usually show up before the cancer starts to spread.

Cancer is not inherited genetically, but there is a genetic component affecting susceptibility when a person inherits hereditary pancreatitis, which is extremely rare. A person does not develop cancer unless they are exposed to a substance that causes cancer.

Genetics also influences the way people react to a cancer-causing substance once a person is exposed, so you could be more susceptible to cancer than most people, but the odds don't change much just because your grandmother had it.

Answer 2

Pancreatic cancer is not certain death but statistically it has a low survival rate. You can sometimes live without a pancreas as noted here
http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/2566.html
Often pancreatic cancer has spread before it is discovered and this is why the prognosis is often grim. Just because your grandmother had it does not mean you are at a high risk of getting it. Statistically, you should worry more about getting killed in a car accident.

Answer 3

cancer in the family is always considered a factor to any form of cancers.Although pancreatic cancer has a very poor prognosis,there are new promising drugs considered as a treatment.The longest Ive heard survived in these form of cancer is about 5 -6 years.

Answer 4

I know you can't live without a pancreas, I don't know how aggressive pancreatic cancer is or success rates of treatment, why not look it up on Web MD?