LONDON, Jan 13, (KUNA): A link between eating processed meat, such as bacon or sausages, and pancreatic cancer has been suggested by researchers in Sweden, it was reported here Friday.
They said eating an extra 50g of processed meat, approximately one sausage, every day would increase a person’s risk by 19 percent, according to the research published in the British Journal of Cancer.
The World Cancer Research Fund suggested the link may be down to obesity.
Eating red and processed meat has already been linked to bowel cancer.
As a result the UK government recommended in 2011 that people eat no more than 70g a day.
Prof Susanna Larsson, who conducted the study at the Karolinska Institute, said the links to other cancers were “quite controversial”.
She added: “It is known that eating meat increases the risk of colorectal cancer, it’s not so much known about other cancers.” The study analysed data from 11 trials and 6,643 patients with pancreatic cancer.
The risk increased by 19 percent for every 50g someone added to their daily diet.
Having an extra 100g would increase the risk by 38 percent.
Prof Larsson said: “Pancreatic cancer has poor survival rates. So as well as diagnosing it early, it’s important to understand what can increase the risk of this disease.” She recommended that people eat less red meat.
Pancreatic cancer symptoms include unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain (often described as a dull, gnawing ache that spreads to the back), Jaundice, weakness, nausea and loss of appetite, back pain, itching of the skin, fever and shivering.
Cancer Research UK said the risk of developing pancreatic cancer in a lifetime was “comparatively small” - one in 77 for men and one in 79 for women.