Side Effect: Inflammation of the Pancreas (pancreatitis)

What is Inflammation of the Pancreas (pancreatitis)?

Inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis.

• Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
• Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a long-term inflammation that can lead to permanent damage to the pancreas and digestive system.

What does Inflammation of the Pancreas (pancreatitis) look like?

The symptoms of pancreatitis include:

• severe pain in the upper abdomen that may radiate to the back
• nausea
• vomiting
• fever
• rapid heartbeat
• weight loss
• oily stool

In severe cases, pancreatitis can lead to complications such as infection, fluid buildup, and damage to other organs.

Who gets Inflammation of the Pancreas (pancreatitis)?

Pancreatitis can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• alcohol abuse
• gallstones
• high levels of fat in the blood
• certain medications
• infections
• genetic factors

Certain cancer treatments that have been associated with a risk of pancreatitis include gemcitabine, fluorouracil (5FU), oxaliplatin, irinotecan, albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane ®), capecitabine, and cisplatin.

Radiation therapy to the upper abdomen can also lead to inflammation of the pancreas.

How to prevent Inflammation of the Pancreas (pancreatitis)

• To help lower the risk of pancreatitis it is important to carefully monitor and manage any underlying risk factors, such as alcohol consumption, gallstones, smoking, and high-fat diets.
• Additionally, ensuring that triglyceride levels remain in the normal range may help to reduce the risk of pancreatitis. Cholesterol medications or fish oil may be used to bring down blood triglyceride levels.

How to treat Inflammation of the Pancreas (pancreatitis)

• Treatment of pancreatitis involves managing the underlying cause of the condition, such as adjusting medications or treating infections.
• If a medication is the cause of the pancreatitis your provider will most likely discontinue that medication and switch to an alternative therapy.
• Pain relief and supportive care, including fluid and electrolyte management, are also important aspects of managing pancreatitis in cancer patients.