Final answer:
True, pancreatic cancer has a high fatality rate, typically within the first five years following diagnosis, often due to late-stage detection and limited effective treatment options.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is pancreatic cancer fatal in the majority of cases within 5 years? The answer is True. Pancreatic cancer is notorious for its poor prognosis, primarily because it is often detected at a late stage and is one of the leading causes of cancer death. The lifetime risk of developing pancreatic cancer is about 1 in 78, and it has a high mortality rate within the first five years after diagnosis. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, chronic pancreatitis, and diabetes, with smoking being a major contributor.