The pancreas has both endocrine and exocrine functions, which means that it has both endocrine and exocrine cells. It is an important digestive gland in the body. The exocrine is the pancreas, which contains a variety of digestive enzymes that break down and digest proteins, sugars and fats in the body. The endocrine is the islets, which mainly secrete insulin and can participate in mediating the body’s sugar metabolism. Carcinoma derived from endocrine cells, called neuroendocrine carcinoma, is relatively rare and in most cases has a lower malignancy and longer course. In contrast, cancer from exocrine cells, which is often referred to as pancreatic cancer, is a tumor of higher malignancy. Pancreatic cancer, the “hidden gentleman”! Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that is very difficult to detect in its early stages and is often found late. The average time from diagnosis to death is usually 3-6 months. Once detected clinically, 80% of the cases are already in advanced stage, so the treatment effect is very poor, and even after receiving treatment, such as surgery or chemotherapy, the mortality rate is extremely high. Due to the deep location of the pancreas in the body, it is also difficult to be detected in the early stage. More importantly, the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not obvious, some patients only show loss of appetite or weight loss, some patients will have abdominal pain and back pain, but sometimes the pain site is not typical for patients, so they will be misdiagnosed as gastritis or cholecystitis, etc. Which groups of people are vulnerable to pancreatic cancer? Alcohol can cause chronic pancreatitis due to fibrosis of the pancreatic tissue, thus increasing the risk of pancreatic cancer. 2. Long-term smokers The nitrosamines in cigarettes are carcinogenic substances, which are activated by blood transport to the liver after inhalation and secreted into the bile ducts, and then flow back into the pancreatic ducts; in addition, smoking increases the concentration of blood lipids and promotes pancreatic cancer. Smokers may be prone to cancer due to low cell methylation levels. 3.Patients with diabetes Insulin can promote the growth of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro or in vivo; high concentration of insulin can activate insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and produce growth-promoting effects including changes in cell cycle processes. 4. Patients with chronic pancreatitis Patients with chronic pancreatitis are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer if treatment is neglected. How to prevent pancreatic cancer? The increased incidence of pancreatic cancer is closely related to poor lifestyle and unreasonable nutrition such as smoking, excessive intake of fat and protein in the diet, and alcohol abuse. Therefore, in order to avoid or reduce the occurrence of pancreatic cancer, we should do the following: 1. Stop drinking alcohol: Reducing alcohol consumption, especially drinking less and not drinking beverages with high alcohol content can avoid pancreatitis, and may also avoid or reduce the possibility of pancreatic cancer. 2. Quit smoking: Those who start smoking when they are teenagers are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. 3, low-fat, low-protein, high-fiber diet: A large increase in sugar and high-calorie diet will increase the chances of pancreatic cancer. In addition, to reduce the consumption of coffee, especially to avoid decaffeinated coffee. 4.Reducing environmental pathogenic factors: Avoid long-term exposure to substances related to the occurrence of pancreatic cancer, such as certain metals, coke, gas, β-naphtholamine, benzidine, methylcholanthrene, N-nitrosomethylamine, acetylaminofluorene and hydrocarbons, and take good protective measures as much as possible. 5.Regular check-up: early detection and early treatment.