I just read an article on Huffington Post about Aretha Franklin having died from pancreatic cancer. The article highlighted the dismal 5 year survival statistics for pancreatic cancer (<5%), and the fact that the incidence of pancreatic cancer is rapidly increasing and is projected to become the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. by 2020. Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and most patients present with advanced and terminal disease. Moreover, pancreatic cancer is also very aggressive and resistant to current modes of treatment. The article went on to discuss “risk factors” for the disease and the risk factors the article mentioned were smoking, diabetes, obesity, smokeless tobacco and genetic predisposition. But the article DID NOT mention THE MOST IMPORTANT risk factor for pancreatic cancer and that is DIET! Pancreatic cancer is STRONGLY linked to western-style diets high in meat, dairy foods, animal fat, alcohol, and low in fruits, vegetables, legumes and fiber. Worldwide, the rates of pancreatic cancer are highest and are increasing in countries that have an animal food-centered diet! Pancreatic cancer is an artifact of western “affluenza” and as such can largely be avoided by adopting a different lifestyle and diet. To lower your risk for ALL cancers — including pancreatic cancer — adopt a plant-based diet and lifestyle.