  pancreatic cancer arises when there is uncontrolled growth of the cells that make up the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach. these cancer cells have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. there are a number of types of pancreatic cancer. pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most common, accounting for about 85% of cases, and the term "pancreatic cancer" is often used to refer only to that type. adenocarcinomas start within the pancreatic glands which make digestive enzymes.<!-- --> one to two in every hundred cases of pancreatic cancer are neuroendocrine tumors, which arise from the hormone-producing islet cells of the pancreas. overall these are generally less aggressive than pancreatic adenocarcinoma.<!-- --> signs and symptoms of the most common form of pancreatic cancer may include yellow skin, abdominal or back pain, unexplained weight loss, light-colored stools, dark urine and loss of appetite.<!-- --> there are usually no symptoms in the disease's early stages, and symptoms that are specific enough to suspect pancreatic cancer typically do not develop until the disease has reached an advanced stage. by the time of diagnosis, pancreatic cancer has often spread to other parts of the body. pancreatic cancer rarely occurs before the age of 40, and more than half of cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma occur in those over 70. risk factors for pancreatic cancer include tobacco smoking, obesity, diabetes, and certain rare genetic conditions. about 25% of cases are linked to smoking,{{cite journal|author=wolfgang cl, herman jm, laheru da, et al.|title=recent progress in pancreatic cancer|journal=ca: a cancer jour
Pancreatic_cancer