Genetic causes
Some risk factors of ampullary cancer can not be prevented. People with diabetes mellitus have been known to have ampullary cancer. Also, patients with family member's that have adenomatous polyposis are more likely to have ampullary cancer. (Familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP, is a genetic disorder characterized by the cancer of the colon and rectum.) Loss of alleles of chromosomes 17p and 18q are associated with this type of cancer, (55% and 36% associated). Ampullary cancer is more common in men. Though the reason not known, African Americans are more likely to have some sort of pancreatic cancer in their lifetime than any other race.
environmental causes
People that smoke have a higher chance of later on getting ampullary cancer. Diets can affect whether or not one might have pancreatic cancer. High-fat diets with a lot of red meat, pork, and processed meats have been linked to pancreatic cancer. All of these being because they are bad for your overall health.
Prevention
Because of the rarity, doctors are not too sure on how to prevent ampullary cancer. However, quitting cigarette smoking and other forms of tobacco products may decrease someone's chances at getting the cancer.