1 Some of this increased risk may be due to socioeconomic factors and to cigarette smoking. 2  Gender: Cancer of the pancreas is more common in men than in women. 3  Men are more likely to smoke than women. 4  Religious background: Pancreatic cancer is proportionally more common in Ashkenazi Jews than the rest of the population. Chronic pancreatitis: Long-term (chronic) inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) has been linked to cancer of the pancreas. 2  Diabetes mellitus: Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer, and long-standing adult-onset diabetes also increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.