Anyone have a small pancreatic IPMN cyst that turned out to be cancer?

I am wondering if anyone here had pancreatic cancer develop from Side Branch IPMN?

My recent 6 month CT scan showed a 7 mm pancreatic cyst that looks like a side branch IPMN in head of pancreas. I have recurrent breast cancer, BRCA2 mutation (raises risk of pancreatic cancer) and lung NETs (neuroendocrine cancer). NETs can present as a cyst. I will have a pancreatic MRI. Wondering how anyone’s cyst was monitored and if it developed into cancer. Just wondering how concerned I should be. The radiologist noted it was in my previous scan but no mention of it in my previous report. Thanks for your input.

I had an IPMN in the tail of the pancreas. The EUS showed it to be benign. So, surgeon suggested monitoring for a year. It grew just a little bit the next year, but main duct around it was noticeably dilated, so I had successful surgery, but the resected portion of the pancreas revealed cancer. They suspected that the IPMN was to blame.

Thank you for your response. Sorry to hear about your cancer. I hope that resection was the end of it for you.

Ken @ what Hospital was your Surgery and what is your prognosis now that it’s removed? Chemo or Radiation involved? God Bless!

Hi,
Surgery, July 2022, was at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut. There was no spread of disease locally and 16 of 16 lymph nodes showed no disease. I had 6 months of Folferinox chemotherapy to chase down cancer cells in my body, but some still landed in my liver. I have seen statistics that point to a slightly better than even chance that chemo can fail in those cases. No radiation. I went on another chemo regimen for six more months, but it could not stop the tumor from growing a little. It's a tough cancer to beat. I hope my experience is helpful for you. Best wishes.

Hi Ken, thank you for the additional info. It definitely is a tough cancer to have. Those elusive cancer cells in all cancers are so challenging. Sorry to hear about the progression and your ongoing battle. Prayers for you.

I have a pancreatic cyst in the tail of the pancreas and I'm scheduled for an endoscopic pancreas biopsy.
I have lost about 30 pounds in 2023.
I dread this test because I have sjogrens syndrome which affects my health as it's not just endrome but exocrin and my throat lymph glands are swollen
It may be just from autoimmune but I need to know

@jacee780
Sorry to hear this. Praying your test goes smoothly and comes out clear. Thank you for your response. Please keep us posted.

Hello @jacee780 and welcome to the NETs support group on Mayo Connect. I was personally diagnosed a number of years ago with pancreatic cysts, so I understand, just a little, what you are feeling right now. It is frightening to have something wrong with the pancreas, isn't it?

When the pancreatic cysts were found, I had already had two surgeries for NETs in the upper digestive tract, so my thoughts went directly to the idea that, "it had spread." I'm happy to report that the EUS in 2016 did not reveal any pancreatic cancer but simply pancreatic cysts. Since then, I have had numerous follow up MRIs and the cysts remain stable, they have not increased in number or in size.

Having another disorder, like Sjogren's Syndrome certainly can create a feeling of unease. However, I would urge you to take this as a process, one step at a time. Don't try to cross any bridges before you come to them. I know that this is easier said than done but it is important to keep yourself calm so that you can think clearly, ask good questions and make good decisions.

Is there a date for the endoscopy yet?