What Causes Pain In Abdominal Area With History Of Pancreatic Cancer?

Posted on Tue, 26 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 26 Aug 2014 Answered on

Wed, 17 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I had a tumor removed from the Pancreas
10 yrs ago with no cancer . What are signs of problems with the Pancreas. I have recently had pain in that region is that a problem?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Abdominal CT should be done.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Unfortunately pancreas tumors can give no symptoms for a very long time. It gives pain in case of acute pancreatitis (sudden, extreme abdominal pain with vomiting) or chronic pancreatitis (medium/mild abdominal pain associated with foods intake, fatty diarrhea, weight loss).
If you have any pain in the pancreas region, you should have abdominal CT to make sure there is no cancer regrow. Waiting is not a good idea.
Other issues which can cause the pain in the pancreas region are gallstones or peptic ulcer. To detect gallstones abdominal ultrasound should be done. Ulcer should be diagnosed with gastroscopy.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (15 hours later)

I am scheduled for an abdominal ultra sound next week. I continue to have discomfort in the stomach region after eating and have diarrhea (for several weeks)

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
Ultrasound is not good choice in case of pancreas issues diagnostics. Both cancer reccurence or chronic pancreatitis can be seen in CT. Diarrhoea can indicate chronic pancreatitis.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar