Question: I just found out that I have pancreatitis. Does this mean I'm at risk for pancreatic cancer?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:

No. Acute pancreatitis is tied to enzymic damage within the pancreas, usually from infection, obstruction by gallstones, trauma, or drug or alcohol abuse. It is also associated with some medical disorders.

The existence of a single episode of pancreatitis does not significantly increase risk of pancreatic cancer in the same way that chronic pancreatitis does. Pancreatic cancer is usually associated with genetic and environmental triggers, but a single bout of acute pancreatitis does not ring huge alarm bells for future malignancy.