Pancreatic cancer is not very common in terms of annual diagnoses, yet it is a deadly form of cancer, contributing to a significant number of deaths each year relative to its diagnosis rate.
In essence, it’s crucial to avoid pancreatic cancer if possible. Your likelihood of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is influenced by various factors, some of which you can control. The American Cancer Society indicates that tobacco users face a higher risk, so refraining from smoking or quitting tobacco could reduce your risk. However, some factors are genetic, such as being born male or having a history of pancreatitis. Additionally, there’s another risk factor that is immutable: your blood type.
You might already be aware of your blood type, which is typically A, AB, B, or O. (Other blood types exist but are among the rarest.) Among these, three are potentially linked to pancreatic cancer: A, AB, and B.
Blood types and pancreatic cancer risk: What research says
A 2023 study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention discovered that individuals with non-O blood types seemed more likely to receive a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The study noted that while evidence suggested A blood types had a higher risk compared to B types, it was unclear which non-O blood type posed the highest risk for the disease.
These findings weren’t the first to suggest a potential link between blood type and pancreatic cancer. A 2009 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reached a similar conclusion. After monitoring the health data of 107,503 individuals over an extended period, researchers observed a higher annual incidence of pancreatic cancer diagnoses among those with non-O blood types. (In this study, B blood types exhibited the highest diagnosis rates, followed by AB and then A.)
The lead author of the 2009 study, Dr. Brian Wolpin, advised against concluding that blood type alone could increase pancreatic cancer risk and suggested that blood type might be related to the disease in other ways (via Dana-Farber Cancer Institute). Nonetheless, he expressed optimism, stating, “The association between blood type and pancreatic cancer risk provides a new avenue for exploring the disease’s underlying biological mechanisms.”
The link between blood types and other cancers
There is a theory that individuals with non-O blood types may be more susceptible to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterial infections. (Here are other surprising ways your blood type can affect your health). A 2010 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicated a probable (though unproven) connection between H. pylori, pancreatic cancer, and A, B, and AB blood types.
What makes H. pylori a possible precursor to pancreatic cancer? Once in the stomach, H. pylori can cause inflammation by breaking down the protective tissues lining the gut. According to the American Cancer Society, H. pylori can lead to stomach ulcers, potentially increasing a person’s risk of pancreatic cancer. (Learn about the warning signs of an ulcer you should never ignore.)
Although H. pylori might not directly result in pancreatic cancer, it may increase the risk of other cancers. The National Cancer Institute reports that H. pylori has been associated with stomach cancer, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and possibly colorectal cancer.
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