Pancreatic cancer
Last update
From 1990 until 2024, there has been a stable occurrence of pancreatic cancer in Norway for both sexes and all age groups, but with a slight increase for both men and women over 65 years old. In 2024, 944 new cases of this cancer were registered.
About pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer can arise from exocrine glandular tissue or endocrine (hormone-producing) glands. Cancer originating from the endocrine glands in the pancreas accounts for less than 10% of the total number of cases of pancreatic cancer and has a significantly better prognosis than other pancreatic cancers. They are also treated differently and are consequently not included in the statistics presented here.
The risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age.
Pancreatic cancer has few and diffuse symptoms that often lead to the disease being discovered late.
The majority of patients with pancreatic cancer cannot be operated on, either due to advanced cancer, spread, or due to old age and comorbidities that are incompatible with surgical treatment.
In Norway, around 800 patients die from pancreatic cancer each year, and less than one in ten survive the disease.
Key figures - pancreatic cancer 2024
New cases
Men: 548
Women: 490
Rates - number of cases per 100,000
Men: 15.6
Women: 15.1
5-year relative survival (2020-2024)
Men: 15.1 %
Women: 15.4 %
Cancer survivors (both genders)
1,872 persons as of 31.12.2024
Deaths (2023)
419 men
419 women
Cumulative risk of developing pancreatic cancer by age 80 - (2020-2024)
Men: 1.5 %
Women: 1.3 %
Risk factors
Why som people develop pancreatic cancer and others do not is usually unknown. You can still make som choices that can help reduce the risk, even if you have no guarantee against cancer.
This is how the risk can be reduced:
- Be non-smoking
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Avoid overweight and obesity
- Follow rules for hazardous substances in the workplace, e.g. from paints, printing inks and metal
- Have a healthy diet
- Be physically active
Factors that may increase the risk:
- Previous cancer
- Long-term chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Some other diseases, such as diabetes, stomach ulcers, infection with hepatitis B and some infections of the mouth
Pancreatic cancer is rarely caused by inheritance.
Steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting pancreatic cancer
- Be smoke-free
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Keep a healthy body weight, avoid overweight and obesity
- Follow rules when handling dangerous substances in the workplace, such as paints, printing inks, metal and machine work, or diesel and traffic pollution
- Have a healthy diet and limit the amount of red and processed meats as well as foods with saturated fats
- Be physically active
Source: helsenorge.no
Questions about cancer
The Cancer Registry of Norway is a research institution. Our professionals therefore do not answer questions about diagnosis, assessment, treatment and follow-up from patients or their relatives.
Questions about this should be directed to your own GP, treating institution or the Cancer Society Advisory Service tel: 21 49 49 21.