Bacon linked to pancreatic cancer

A link between eating processed meat, such as bacon or sausages, and pancreatic cancer has been suggested by researchers in Sweden.
 
They said eating an extra 50g of processed meat, approximately one sausage, every day would increase a person’s risk by 19%.
 
But the chance of developing the rare cancer remains low.
 
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, told the BBC that 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, published in the British Journal of Cancer, analysed data from 11 trials and 6,643 patients with pancreatic cancer.
 
Increased risk
 
It found that eating processed meat increased the risk of pancreatic cancer. The risk increased by 19% for every 50g someone added to their daily diet. Having an extra 100g would increase the risk by 38%.
 
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.