diagnosis please help - What tests for Pancreatic diagnosis?

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hi everyone can anyone please tell me what tests should be done before an 100% positive diagnosis is made for pancreatic cancer.i have read conflicting things and a lot says that a ct scan can also show pancreatitis.please help!

  • Hello thedoglady1234

    Thank you for contacting Macmillan. My name is Helen, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

    Welcome to the online community.

    You have asked what tests are carried out to confirm a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

    When diagnosing a pancreatic cancer, the specialist will arrange a series of scans and tests, all of which go to make up a picture of the health of someone’s digestive system (which the pancreas is part of).

    Just as its very difficult to see the whole jigsaw puzzle picture with just a couple of jigsaw pieces, so it is when diagnosing cancer of the pancreas. Each scan, blood test and result is a piece of the picture that is needed to make that definite diagnosis.

    CT scans are part of the range of scans used to build up that picture and help determine if someone’s symptoms are due to a cancer, or to an inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)

    Here is some information from our web-page on tests for pancreatic cancer and I hope that is helpful.

    I have also added Pancreatic Cancer UK’s details.

    Do make use of the above resources rather than googling as it’s so important that you get trustworthy information. And you might consider calling us to chat through your concerns – we are very happy to help.  

    I hope this has been helpful.  

    With best wishes, Helen

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email

    Ref:  HM/KS