Posted by Willy-N [162.158.74.78] on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 22:19:53 :
Well they did the test and it is not Pancreatic Cancer but the Pancreas is scared on the inside and they want to test for Autoimmune Damage to it in other words my body attacking it. This is a new thing there learning about and does have ways of treating it. So in a nut shell they took a bunch of biopsies and some are being sent to the Mayo Clinic and more special blood tests will be done soon to see what type or if this is it. Alcohol is not the cause of it so it is steering them to the other stuff and the Doctor is interested as much as I am in finding the cause! Here is a cut and paste thing in medical terms;
Chronic pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is swelling of the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is present when this problem does not heal or improve, gets worse over time, and leads to permanent damage.
Causes
The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach. It produces chemicals (called enzymes) needed to digest food. It also produces the hormones insulin and glucagon.
When scarring of the pancreas occurs, the organ is no longer able to make the right amount of these enzymes. As a result, your body may be unable to digest fat and key elements of food.
Damage to the parts of the pancreas that make insulin may lead to diabetes.
The condition is most often caused by alcohol abuse over many years. Repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis can lead to chronic pancreatitis. Genetics may be a factor in some cases. Sometimes, the cause is not known.
Other conditions that have been linked to chronic pancreatitis:
Problems when the immune system attacks the body
Blockage of the tubes (ducts) that drain enzymes from the pancreas
Cystic fibrosis
High levels of a fat, called triglycerides, in the blood
Overactive parathyroid gland
Use of certain medicines (especially sulfonamides, thiazides, and azathioprine)
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