pancreatitis vs cancer

For the last few months I have had a constant gnawing achy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I have had labs for liver enzymes all normal, cholesterol all normal (trigs are 224 non fasting), all CMP labs within normal range. I had a complete abdominal ultrasound which was completely normal, (unable to view pancreas due to bowel gas). My doctor started me on kapidex which caused the symptoms to get worse. Dr says it's GERD, but it just constantly aches in the upper quadrants both of them.

My drs said this is not typical of pancreatitis as lipase usually goes up real high and quick and back down a few days later. I am hoping if someone can help w these questions- 1. If someone has pain due to PC does it typically show on a CT or US? 2. Is lipase usually very high with PC or just slightly high 3. If I had PC back in Sept (when my ca was slightly elevated) would it have gone up in 5 months vs down?

She is worried about gastointestinal cancer. Recently she complains of bloating, flatulence, and sometimes when she burps, some liquid with undigested food particles will come out. She also complains of abdominal discomfort. She has undergone colonoscopy last year and everything was alright. Doctor advised her repeat the test again after 3 months. Please advice. Thanks.

put it this way,its defanently your pancreas,either possible cancer or pancreatitis... either way,,,you need help!

Welcome to the gastroenterology community! Pancreatitis is usually caused by gallstones or alcohol. Pancreatitis can't turn into pancreatic cancer but people who already have pancreatic cancer, can get pancreatitis which is why you and your mother had the same symptoms.

could be pancreas,but if it were,i think you would have more issues....severe weight loss,throwing up alot,hpspitalizations exct. sounds like you might have crohns disease. id check into that,,its more digestive then organ i think,and i kinda know,i have a close friend with chronic pancreatitis.

CA 19-9 can be elevated with pancreatic cancer but can also be elevated with pancreatitis or hepatobiliary disorders. It sounds like your husband has at least pancreatitis based on CT, but it is unusual that the other blood work was normal. Usually pancreatitis presents with elevated amylase and/or lipase. Significant weight loss is concerning for cancer. Jaundice, dark urine, and light stools would also be concerning if present.

ve posted so far, I think that what you had is a case of acute pancreatitis. The risk for developing pancretic cancer is only true in cases of chronic pancreatitis, not acute pancreatitis. So I don't think you are at an increased risk of developing cancer later on. It takes some time (several months) for the pancreas to recover, and for the lipase and amylase levels to return to normal, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

The endoscopy found mild gastritis. All other test are normal.The pancreatic specialist did not mention pancreatitis at the time and only prescribed nexium and sulcrafate for the gastritis. I am 67, and never had a previous bout with pancreatitis. Moderate beer drinker. How should I be treated?

The only chemotherapy drug commonly used in breast cancer which has been known to cause pancreatitis is methotrexate. This drug is usually given as part of the chemotherapy regimen called CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil).

With repeated bouts of acute pancreatitis, damage to the pancreas can occur and lead to chronic pancreatitis. Scar tissue may form in the pancreas, causing loss of function. A poorly functioning pancreas can cause digestion problems and diabetes.

In pancreatitis both lipase and amylase are usually elevated. Other tests (CT, MRI) are needed to confirm pancreatitis. But elevated lipase doesn't mean you have pancreatitis. Or, lipase level doesn't necessary correlate with severity of inflammation. ERCP was probably suggested because a small stone, either from gallbladder or pancreas can block pancrteatic duct - what results in pancreatitis. There's another, noninvasive investigation - MRCP, which could be done instead of ERCP.

My dad was diagnosed with autoimmune pancreatitis after being told he had pancreatic cancer and undergoing a whipple. He has had nothing but problems and suffers from sporatic high fevers, as high as 104 degrees. He has since started on steroids and was feeling great. This past week he has had high fevers again, losing weight and feeling horrible. Has anyone else suffered with the high fevers. He has been seeing a liver specialist in Boston but I think he is learning along with my dad.

Other conditions that can cause yellow stools include hepatitis, pancreatitis or liver cirrhosis. It does not indicate cancer like you rightly mentioned.

My doctors at first thought it was cancer, and rushed me to a pancreatic cancer specialist in Seattle. I had 2 ERCPs done, but they just showed nacrotic cells. Because this disease is SOOOO rare in the US they didn't know at first what I had, but they didn't want to take any chances with me so they scheduled me for surgery. My Gastro dr did some research, ran an IGg4 and asked me to wait 2 weeks and started me on steriods.

Hi, Scars and calcification in the pancreas are features of chronic pancreatitis. In this condition, the secretion of enzymes and hormones from the pancreas gets affected and this effect depends on how much of the pancreas is affected. There will poor absorption of the nutrients resulting in weightloss and nutritional problems. It may cause diabetes mellitus. It is also a risk factor for pancreatic cancer though the risk is not 100%.

Ca 19-9 can also be elevated in conditions like gallstones, cirrhosis, pancreatitis and cholecystitis.Other tests used for diagnosing pancreatic cancer are CT scan/MRI, ERCP and percutaneous needle biopsy. Any test result has to be correlated clinically. If you are still in doubt get your doubts clarified after consulting your doctor. Hope it helps. Best luck and regards!

Lately they thought he had pancreatic cancer and liver cancer which has same exact symptoms as autoimmune pancreatitis. Only biopsie can confirm. Autoimmune pancreatitis can be cured with 11 week course of steroids and people live a normal life. We are waiting for his biopsie next week to see what he really had...Why did you ask about MS affecting pancreas?

They found through an abdominal ultra sound the tail is enlarged. I have a family history of pancreatic cancer. They request I do further testing. Is pancreatitis something you can get rid of or is it something that kind of hangs around and "flares up"?

ve had my gallbladder removed in 2006, a ectopic pregnancy, then a hysterectomy (which they found endometriosis) , gastric bypass (2014)then had pancreatitis a month after that surgery. My father currently has cancer and out of my grandmas 8 kids 5 has passed from cancer (2 stomach,liver,lung,breast) so i scheduled for a endoscopy but my doctor doesn't seem concerned at all.

I recently had an ultrasound that said I had a borderline enlarged pancreatic duct (4.2 mm). I do not have pancreatitis. I am wondering about causes, if there are any besides cancer or pancreatitis. That is all I have found on this subject. Am scared.

These types of ascites are typically manifestations of advanced cancers of the organs in the abdominal cavity, such as, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer, or ovarian cancer. Pancreatic ascites can be seen in people with chronic (long standing) pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas. The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is prolonged alcohol abuse.

I am a 22 year old with a pancreas problem. I was in the hospital for pancreatitis and my lipase and amalyse levels are still high 3 weeks later. I have had an ultra sound and MRCP and both came back normal, the MRCP showed inflammation of my pancreas, I am concerned because my stools are still pale and greasy and my Lipase and Amal. levels are still high. Could i have pancreatic cancer???

During the last episode I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with pancreatitis and they found gallstones. The gastroenterologists on staff unanimously recommended removal of the gallbladder. In reviewing a number of PubMed articles it appears that an alternative might be Gallstone dissolution therapy using Ursodiol. The Physicians at the hospital could/would not tell me the size of the gallstones, nor did they know whether they were cholesterol based.

thanks for the coment ,ive always felt like the CT scan missed what the problem was, i mean i went down the list of symptoms from Chronic pancreatitis and Panc Cancer, and it was 6 for Yes and 1 for no on CP and it was 4 yes and 4 no for panc cancer, not that u can go,oh u have CP ,because of that,but ive been having these symptoms since June 6th 2013,my GI doctor 1st thought IBS,so i went two months with trying to fix ,went back after the two months ,he did the CA 19-9 and the CBC,and now co

I went home and that night took my temp 99.4 and thought that was a fever. They set me up for a ct scan and told me I had pancreatitis? I went to norwood urgent care and they hooked me to a IV and that was that . I have not had any pain or vominting, lost weight becausebof liquid diet and anxiety. Can someone please tell me if this will happen again or if I should do a follow up with a GI specialist???

Pancreatitis vs cancer

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