The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing year by year, and the death of Apple President Steve Jobs has drawn more attention to pancreatic cancer. First, studies have shown that direct smoking is clearly associated with an increased incidence of pancreatic cancer. People who have quit smoking usually have a lower prevalence than those who still smoke, and, after 10-15 years of quitting, the prevalence of smokers drops to the level of lifelong nonsmokers. Although the carcinogenic effect of smoking on pancreatic cancer has been confirmed, the specific carcinogen that causes pancreatic cancer has not been fully identified, and nitroso complexes have been postulated to be implicated. Based on numerous studies, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified tobacco as a carcinogenic agent for pancreatic cancer in humans. The risk ratio associated with the development of pancreatic cancer in smokers than in nonsmokers is 2.5. The next factor is dietary. Because of the close relationship between the pancreas and nutritional metabolism, nutrition and its associated factors have been of interest as possible causes of pancreatic cancer for many years. There is a positive correlation between the incidence of pancreatic cancer and cholesterol, vitamin C and fiber, which are rich in fruits, vegetables and cereals, reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, and other foods have shown a significant correlation with the incidence of pancreatic cancer, such as meat intake studies suggesting that meat increases the incidence of pancreatic cancer. Two other dietary factors that have attracted widespread attention in epidemiological studies of pancreatic cancer are alcohol consumption and coffee consumption, but most studies do not support their association with pancreatic cancer. In addition, certain occupational factors can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Four substances were found to be associated with an increased incidence of pancreatic cancer: aluminum, ionizing radiation, styrene and certain pesticides. There are 14 occupations or types of work that can increase the risk of the disease, including: administration, scientific research, aluminum production, automated operations, liquefied gas stations, auto repair, chemicals, dry cleaning, engine manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, food alcohol and tobacco, leather, petroleum, printing and publishing, paper, rubber manufacturing, textiles, and woodworking. Two other major diseases have been shown to be associated with an increased incidence of pancreatic cancer: pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, pancreatic cancer, especially its high mortality rate, is an important problem affecting public health worldwide. Its incidence is high in developed countries, and although it is relatively low in developing countries, the incidence in some developing countries has tended to approach that of developed countries. The clearest cause of pancreatic cancer is smoking, which increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer to 2-3 times. Prevention therefore focuses on quitting smoking, and studies have shown that quitting can benefit quickly. A diet that increases the intake of fruits, vegetables, and cereals and decreases the intake of meat and similar foods, in addition to weight loss and physical activity may be beneficial in reducing the incidence of pancreatic cancer.