BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- At a time when many types of cancer are decreasing in the United States, pancreatic cancer cases are rising -- it's the fourth leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.

New research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention has suggested that the nation's soda consumption may be partly to blame.

Doctors followed more than 60,000 people living in Singapore for more than a decade. They found that those who consumed two or more soft drinks per week had an 87 percent increased chance of developing pancreatic cancer.

U.S. studies have shown a similar pattern, though diet sodas have not been linked to pancreatic cancer risk.

Scientists theorized that the excess sugar in sodas triggers greater insulin release, which may stimulate cancer cells.

But other experts said that the real danger is the overall poor diet that soda drinkers often follow. They tend to eat more junk food in general and get less exercise -- and they also have higher rates of obesity which is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer by itself.