The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for pancreatic cancer in the United States are for 2009:

• about 42,470 people (21,050 men and 21,420 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• about 35,240 people (18,030 men and 17,210 women) will die of pancreatic cancer

Over the past 15 to 25 years, rates of pancreatic cancer have dropped slightly in men and women. Still, pancreatic cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall.

The lifetime risk of developing pancreatic cancer is about 1 in 72 (1.38%). This is about the same for both men and women. A person's risk may be altered by certain risk factors (listed in the section "What are the risk factors for pancreatic cancer?").

Last Medical Review: 10/13/2009
Last Revised: 10/13/2009