Pancreatitis is inflammation or swelling of the pancreas, a small gland located behind your stomach that helps you digest food and regulates blood sugar. There are two main types:
Pancreatitis often causes intense discomfort. Watch for these signs:
Several factors can trigger inflammation of the pancreas:
With a focus on patient-centered care and comprehensive digestive health solutions, GastroDoxs provides expert diagnostics and effective treatment for pancreatitis and related conditions. Our approach is rooted in compassionate, personalized care to help you achieve long-term relief and improved quality of life. Don't wait-book an appointment with our Houston team today and take the first step toward feeling better.
We've successfully treated more than 1K patients, helping individuals improve their digestive health and overall well-being through expert, personalized care.
With over 20 years of experience, GastroDoxs has been a trusted provider of gastroenterology care, focusing on delivering the best outcomes for patients
Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that causes pain and swelling, while pancreatic cancer involves uncontrolled cell growth forming a tumor. Pancreatitis can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), whereas pancreatic cancer tends to grow slowly and is often harder to detect early.
Yes. Repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis can damage pancreatic tissue over time, leading to chronic inflammation, scarring, and long-term digestive issues.
Seek medical attention if you have severe upper abdominal pain-especially if it radiates to your back-along with nausea, vomiting, fever, or a rapid heartbeat lasting more than a few hours.
In severe cases, pancreatitis can lead to complications like organ failure, infection, or internal bleeding, making it potentially life-threatening. Early treatment significantly reduces these risks.
Pancreatic cancer can be curable if caught early and the tumor can be completely removed with surgery. Unfortunately, many cases are diagnosed at a later stage, which limits treatment options.
About 5-10% of pancreatic cancer cases are linked to inherited genetic mutations. If you have a strong family history of pancreatic or related cancers, discuss genetic testing with your doctor.
The overall five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is under 12%. However, early detection and advances in therapy are gradually improving patient outcomes.
Stage 4 indicates that cancer has spread (metastasized) beyond the pancreas to other organs. Treatment at this stage focuses on symptom relief, slowing tumor growth, and maintaining quality of life.
There is no verified evidence that King Charles has pancreatic cancer. Always rely on official medical statements rather than unconfirmed online rumors.
Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late due to nonspecific early symptoms and its deep location in the abdomen. It also tends to spread quickly and resist many standard treatments, making effective therapy more challenging.
