FAMILIAL PANCREATIC-CANCER IN SOUTH LOUISIANA

Previous researchers have found high mortality and incidence rates for pancreatic cancer in the Acadiana region of southern Louisiana. While lifestyle practices such as pork and alcohol consumption and a famili al trend have been linked to pancreatic cancer cigarette smoking is th e only established risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Therefore, a ret rospective descriptive study was conducted to explore lifestyle risk f actors and the familial trend in pancreatic cancer. The Familial Pancr eatic Cancer Questionnaire (FPCQ) was used to collect data on demograp hics, tobacco and alcohol use, dietary history, and medical history. A surrogate respondent (family member) for 31 pancreatic cancer subject s completed the FPCQ. Race and gender specific incidence rates (IR) fo r pancreatic cancer in Acadiana were calculated. Results showed that m ean IRs for pancreatic cancer for Caucasian and African-American males and females were higher than national SEER rates. Pancreatic cancer a nd lung cancer weve the most frequently reported cancers among subject s' first degree relatives. The majority (65%) of the subjects smoked. A positive family history for pancreatic cancer was found in this stud y with Jive (16%) of the pancreatic cancer subjects having one or more first degree relatives with pancreatic cancer. This percent is twice that found by previous researchers.