Scientists at Boston Medical Center have discovered an interesting link between gallstones and a deadly type of pancreatic cancer called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Their study found that people who were diagnosed with this cancer were much more likely to have had gallstones in the year before they were diagnosed. This could help doctors find pancreatic cancer earlier, which might make treatment more successful.
Pancreatic cancer, especially PDAC, is one of the most dangerous cancers. It makes up over 90% of pancreatic cancer cases and is often found too late. This is because symptoms usually don’t appear until the cancer has already spread. As a result, very few people survive for long after diagnosis.
Gallstones are small, hard lumps that form in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ under the liver that stores bile, a fluid that helps the body digest fat. Gallstones form when the bile becomes unbalanced.
They can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. Many people have gallstones and don’t even know it. But when symptoms do appear, they may include pain in the upper belly, nausea, and trouble digesting food.
The researchers looked at data from nearly 19,000 people with pancreatic cancer and compared them to about 100,000 people without cancer. They found that in the year before being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer:
– 4.7% of patients had gallstones
– 1.6% had their gallbladders removed
In people without cancer:
– Only 0.8% had gallstones
– Just 0.3% had their gallbladders removed
This means people who later developed pancreatic cancer were about six times more likely to have had gallstones. This does not mean gallstones cause cancer, but it does suggest they could be an early warning sign.
Doctors might use this information to monitor patients more closely. If someone has gallstones and then starts showing other health changes, it could be a signal to check for pancreatic cancer earlier than usual. Early detection is key, because treatments work better when the cancer is found early.
Gallstones are common, especially in people over 40, women, and those who are overweight. Most people with gallstones will never get pancreatic cancer. But if someone gets gallstones suddenly or has their gallbladder removed, it might be something doctors should look into more carefully.
Researchers now want to understand why this link exists. They hope to find patterns in test results or medical scans that could help doctors know who is at higher risk for pancreatic cancer.
This study gives hope that we may one day catch this deadly cancer sooner and save more lives. It also shows how paying attention to smaller health issues like gallstones can sometimes give clues about more serious problems. More research is needed, but this is a promising step forward.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about the link between dairy food and certain cancers and this common food chemicals may cause cancer.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies that plant-based diets may reduce risk of colorectal cancer in men, and Low-fat diet may help stop cancer growth.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
