Author S. Raimondi from the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy, wrote an article titled “Pancreatic Cancer in Chronic Pancreatitis; Aetiology, Incidence, and Early Detection”. Chronic pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer are primarily responsible for most of the negative effects of exocrine pancreatic disease. The pancreas is a flat gland found in the upper abdomen, behind the stomach. The primary function of this gland is to produce digestive enzymes and hormones that regulate sugar levels in the human body. Chronic pancreatitis may cause severe and life threatening complications and may be associated with an elevated risk for pancreatic cancer.
Raimondi states “Glandular damage from recurrent bouts of acute pancreatitis can lead to irreversible changes characteristic of chronic pancreatitis. In recent decades accumulating evidence has defined longstanding pre-existing chronic pancreatitis as a strong risk factor for pancreatic cancer. The lag period between diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer is usually one or two decades: pancreatitis appearing a year or two before the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is often the result of tumour-related ductal obstruction.” Rare types of pancreatitis with early onset have the greatest risk factor in developing pancreatic cancer. These types of pancreatitis are hereditary pancreatitis and tropical pancreatitis.
A positive correlation between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer has been found: about five percent of patients with chronic pancreatitis will develop pancreatic cancer. Screening is the best way for early detection of pancreatic cancer, but development of more sophisticated screening procedures are needed. Before better methods of screening are developed, it is not recommend that patients with chronic pancreatitis be screened.
Recently, a number of diabetes drugs such as Victoza, Byetta, and Januvia (used in GLP-1 therapy for type two diabetes) have been associated with a dramatically increased risk for pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. As these potentially deadly side-effects were not made clear by the manufacturers in light of the publication of many papers showing connections between GLP-1 therapy and cancer, a number of Victoza lawsuits, Byetta lawsuits, and Januvia lawsuits have been filed.
If you or a loved one used Januvia, Byetta, Victoza, or another GLP-1 therapy drug for type two diabetes and suffered from pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation for the injuries you have sustained by no fault of your own.
For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Victoza lawyers, Byetta lawyers, and Januvia lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve.
(855) 452-5529
Our Byetta Lawsuit / Victoza Lawsuits / Januvia Lawsuit Information page is a great place to start if you have any questions about GLP-1 therapy drugs and diabetes drug lawsuits.