Pancreatic Cancer vs. Pancreatitis

Unlike most of your organs, the pancreas plays double duty in your body. It creates the enzymes that help you digest food and the hormones you need to control your blood sugar. So, it’s important to know when something goes wrong.

Pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis are two conditions that create an unhealthy pancreas. They affect the organ in different ways and cause different symptoms. These diseases also require different treatments, so an accurate — and early — diagnosis matters.

Here, Jovenel Cherenfant, MD, a general surgeon at the Franciscan Physician Network Family Wellness Center Munster, explains these two conditions and why paying attention to your pancreatic health matters all year.

Key Takeaways: Pancreatitis & Prostate Cancer

• Acute and chronic pancreatitis affect approximately 30 and 12 people per 100,000, respectively.
• Pancreatic cancer is the 10^th most common cancer in the United States, with roughly 67,530 diagnoses each year.
• Early detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is critical for the best outcomes and survival rates.

Pancreatic Cancer Vs. Pancreatitis: What’s The Difference?

Pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis affect your pancreas differently, Dr. Cherenfant said.

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer develops when your pancreatic cells grow uncontrollably. Early-stage cancer stays in your pancreas. But over time, it can spread to other parts of your body, which makes it harder to treat.

With early-stage pancreatic cancer, the five-year survival rate is 43 percent. But the condition is difficult to detect, so more than 50 percent of people are diagnosed with advanced disease. Once it affects other organs, the five-year survival rate is 3.2 percent. The overall five-year survival rate for all pancreatic cancers is 13 percent.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a painful condition that occurs when your pancreatic tissue is inflamed. You can experience two types of pancreatitis:

• Acute pancreatitis: A temporary condition that happens when your pancreas swells in response to minor, short-term injury
• Chronic pancreatitis: Long-term inflammation and damage that worsens over time

Inflammation causes the enzymes that break down your food to leak into your pancreatic tissue.

“As these enzymes seep in, they eat away the nerves, blood vessels and tissue of your pancreas,” Dr. Cherenfant said. “Whatever those enzymes touch, they destroy. As a result, people can feel significant discomfort and severe pain.”

Pancreatic Cancer: Symptoms, Causes And Treatments

According to the American Cancer Society, doctors will diagnose nearly 67,530 pancreatic cancer cases in 2026.

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer can include:

• Age (average age at diagnosis is 70)
• Being male
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol use
• Exposure to certain chemicals
• Family history
• Inherited conditions like hereditary pancreatitis or Lynch syndrome
• Overweight or obesity
• Race (Black patients are at higher risk)
• Smoking (smoking doubles your risk)

Pancreatic cancer symptoms

Typically, only advanced pancreatic cancer causes symptoms. Even then, it’s easy to mistake signs for other problems, Dr. Cherenfant said. Talk with your doctor if you experience:

• Abdominal pain that extends to your sides or back
• Jaundice (yellowing of your skin)
• Loss of appetite
• Newly diagnosed or worsening diabetes
• Unexplained weight loss

Pancreatic cancer causes

The cause of pancreatic cancer is unclear, Dr. Cherenfant said. But doctors know that genetics can play a role. That’s why they recommend genetic testing if you’re diagnosed with the disease.

“Based on our current guidelines, anyone with pancreatic cancer gets genetic testing,” he said. “If we find a genetic mutation, it may help direct our treatment. We also encourage your family members, especially your siblings and children, to get genetic testing.”

Pancreatic cancer treatment

Dr. Cherenfant said doctors use advanced imaging tests, biopsies and blood tests to diagnose pancreatic cancer. Your treatment depends on the location of your cancer and how advanced it is. For most patients, doctors recommend a combination of:

• Chemotherapy: This first-line treatment shrinks tumors, making tumor removal easier. It can also kill remaining cancer cells after surgery.
• Radiation: This therapy uses energy beams to target cancer cells. It’s often paired with chemotherapy and can also be used to relieve pain.
• Surgery: In addition to tumor removal, surgeons can remove all or part of your pancreas.

Recent immunotherapy research has introduced personalized pancreatic cancer treatments, Dr. Cherenfant said. Several clinical trials are currently underway to test these therapies.

“Promising immunotherapies could provide targeted treatment,” he said. “The biomarkers for pancreatic cancer can sometimes be different. So, investigators are designing specific agents that go straight for those markers.”

Pancreatitis: Symptoms, Causes And Treatments 

Pancreatitis affects most people between their 30s and 50s, and men have a slightly higher risk, Dr. Cherenfant said. Other risk factors include:

• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol use
• Family history of pancreatitis
• Obesity
• Personal history of gallstones
• Race (people who are Black are at higher risk)
• Smoking

Pancreatitis symptoms

Severe pain is the most common symptom. Dr. Cherenfant said some signs are often confused with symptoms of other conditions.

With acute pancreatitis, you can experience:

• Fast heart rate
• Fast, shallow breathing
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting

In addition to acute pancreatitis symptoms, you can also have these signs with chronic pancreatitis:

• Fatty bowel movements that appear oily
• Indigestion and pain after eating
• Lightheadedness
• Loss of appetite
• Unintended weight loss

Pancreatitis causes

According to Dr. Cherenfant, it isn’t always easy to pinpoint the reason for pancreatitis.

“We frequently say that everything causes pancreatitis. Sometimes when we diagnose it, we’re not sure exactly what happened,” he said. “But we always look for the usual suspects.”

With acute pancreatitis, the common causes include:

• Alcohol: Too much alcohol can prompt your pancreas to produce higher levels of enzymes that eat away at the organ’s tissue.
• Gallstones: These small, hard masses can block your pancreatic duct and cause inflammation, pain and jaundice.
• High cholesterol: A high level of triglycerides causes your body to produce more fatty acids that can damage pancreatic cells.

If you have repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis, you could develop chronic pancreatitis, Dr. Cherenfant said. But heavy alcohol consumption is the leading cause of the long-term condition. Other factors can also trigger these painful episodes, including:

• Cystic fibrosis (this genetic condition can cause repeated pancreatic duct blockages)
• Hypercholesterolemia (inherited high cholesterol)
• Some medications (some antibiotics, chemotherapies, hormones and steroids)

Pancreatitis treatment

The primary goal for pancreatitis treatment is pain management and reduction, Dr. Cherenfant said. Narcotic medication for pain control and IV fluids to improve hydration and nutrition can help control the pain. But these medications are only one part of a care plan.

“When we can identify the cause of a patient’s pancreatitis, we go directly for it,” he said.

Your doctor may recommend these treatments:

• Cholesterol medication: Cholesterol-lowering medication can help reduce the risk that your pancreatitis returns.
• Gallbladder surgery: Once inflammation decreases, a surgeon may use a minimally invasive procedure to remove the gallstone blocking your pancreatic duct. They may also recommend removing your gallbladder completely.
• Pancreas procedures: Minimally invasive procedures can drain fluid from your pancreas or remove unhealthy tissue.
• Treatment programs: If excessive alcohol use or smoking causes your pancreatitis, your doctor may recommend treatment or cessation programs.

“It can be hard to stay away from alcohol, especially with an addiction involved. But, if alcohol is the main trigger, we strongly encourage patients to stop drinking,” Dr. Cherenfant said. “People with alcoholism have three to four pancreatitis attacks yearly. They can last for weeks and lead to hospitalization.”

Pay Attention And Speak Up About New Symptoms

Overall, Dr. Cherenfant emphasized how important it is to talk to your doctor about your pancreatic health. It is critical to catch problems early, he said.

“Signs of pancreatic disease can be vague, but you should make an appointment if you experience symptoms,” he said. “Treating pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis is much easier when we catch it early. When you see signs, don’t blow it off.”

 Learn more about pancreatic cancer care and treatment at Franciscan Health.