A 38-year-old member asked:
Can chronic pancreatitis cause pancreatic cancer?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Lawrence Hochmananswered
Radiation Oncology 31 years experience
Possibly: Chronic pancreatitis has been an associated factor with development of pancreatic cancer.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Herbert Duvivieranswered
Hematology and Oncology 33 years experience
Increases risk: Chronic pancreatitis (inflammation for the pancreas) can lead to cellular changes which could potentially increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 34-year-old member asked:
Does chronic pancreatitis lead to pancreatic cancer?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Gurmukh Singhanswered
Pathology 49 years experience
Usually not: Chronic pancreatitis by itself is a serious illness with a 50% mortality rate over 20-25 years. People with garden variety chronic pancreatitis do not have an appreciable increase in incidence of pancreatic cancer; however, the small number of people with hereditary pancreatitis have a 40% life time risk of cancer of pancreas.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
United Kingdom
A 42-year-old male asked:
Do I have pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Gurmukh Singhanswered
Pathology 49 years experience
See below: What makes you think that you have either?
I addressed your concern about pancreatic cancer.
Please visit a doctor for reassurance, since you do not seem to have any symptoms.
For good health - Have a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, nuts, beans, legumes, lentils and small amounts of lean meats. Avoid saturated fats. Drink enough water daily, so that your urine is mostly colorless. Exercise at least 150 minutes/week and increase the intensity of exercise gradually. Do not use tobacco, alcohol, weed or street drugs in any form.
Practice safe sex, if you have sex.
471 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
How can I distinguish between pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
A US doctor answeredLearn more
Difficult: Even with invasive testing, this can be a very difficult distinction. EUS (endoscopic ultrasound) with biopsy, ERCP with brushings, and scans like MRI or CT tend to be the most reliable ways to tell pancreatic cancer apart from pancreatitis. Even biopsy samples can at times be difficult to tell the 2 apart underneath the microscope. In terms of symptoms, essentially all the symptoms overlap.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
What are the causes of pancreatic cancer?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Reza Shirazianswered
Radiation Oncology 20 years experience
Don't really know: We really don't know the cause. Depending on the location of pancrease (pancrelipase) involved symptoms can be different. Usually silent till it is discovered unless the tumor is at the head of pancrease (pancrelipase) where patient presents looking yellow with change in color of urine and stool. Pain usually in late stages. Best chance of cure if tumor can be cut out. New onset of diabetes may be a symptom ( not specific).
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
What can cause pancreatic cancer?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Myron Arlenanswered
Surgical Oncology 64 years experience
Probable viral: Pancreas cancer starts out as an intraductal lesion similar to breast DTIC (dacarbazine). It smolders within the ductal system for 15-20 yrs before first signs of ductal wall invasion to become an early pancreatic carcinoma. The TAA that are expressed early are oncofetal in origin and are suppressed at birth to reappear in the tumor as the oncogenic protein. Transformation probably viral induced.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated May 5, 2015
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