Why is Pancreatic Cancer So Deadly?

Pancreatic cancer is a serious and increasingly prevalent health concern worldwide. It is the 6th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. If you or a loved one has been impacted by pancreatic cancer and would like to learn more about it, these cancer statistics may give you a better understanding of the disease and help answer the question: Why is pancreatic cancer so deadly?

Approximately 3% of all cancers and 8% of all cancer deaths in the US are caused by pancreatic cancer.

In 2025 alone, within the US, it was estimated that about:

• 67,440 people (34,950 men and 32,490 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
• 51,980 people (27,050 men and 24,930 women) will die of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. In fact, it is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and is expected to become the second by 2030.

Based on 2019–2023 data, the mortality (or death) rate of pancreatic cancer in the US was 11.3 per 100,000 men and women per year. The majority of deaths (32%) caused by pancreatic cancer occur in people aged 65 to 74, with the median age at death being 73.

Related: Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates

Pancreatic cancer continues to have low survival rates and poorer outcomes compared to many other cancers for several reasons.

It usually has a late or delayed diagnosis

Unfortunately, one of the greatest challenges with diagnosing pancreatic cancer is that early–stage symptoms, such as abdominal pain, are often non-specific. More specific symptoms, such as jaundice, typically trigger suspicion for pancreatic cancer. However, they often appear at a more advanced stage, when treatment options may be limited and less effective.

It has a rapid disease progression

Due to a typically aggressive tumor biology, pancreatic cancer can grow and spread quickly. By the time it is detected, pancreatic cancer may already be of an advanced stage. It may also have spread to distant sites of the body, such as the liver and lungs.

Surgery may not be an option for everyone

When the cancer is too advanced or has already spread, the likelihood of being able to remove it completely and safely with surgery is low. Furthermore, because most cases are detected at later stages, only 15–20% of pancreatic cancer patients are eligible for surgery at the time of diagnosis. Even patients who undergo surgical resection remain at an elevated risk of cancer recurrence, and as such, chemotherapy either before or after surgery may be recommended.

There’s a lack of early screening methods

Out of the five most lethal cancers (lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers) in the US, screening strategies for pancreatic cancer are less well-defined and not readily available in many parts of the country. Larger medical centers may have a screening protocol based on the International Cancer of the Pancreas Screening (CAPS) Consortium recommendations. These typically involve an annual MRI of the abdomen and/or an endoscopic ultrasound.

While promising, current screening guidelines are not perfect. The lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers for pancreatic cancer makes early detection difficult as well, and though commercially available blood tests exist, their role in early detection and true screening remains unclear.

The early detection of pancreatic cancer remains challenging. However, ongoing research offers hope to refine screening techniques and develop less invasive tests.