Ninth Circuit Solicitor Ralph Hoisington thought the nagging pain in his gut for the past month might be an ulcer. There were stomach cramps and some unexplained weight loss.

This week, a doctor diagnosed the worst news possible.

Hoisington has pancreatic cancer, one of the most difficult cancers to detect early and one that spreads quickly. Nearly 34,000 Americans are diagnosed with it every year.

He told his office staff of his doctor's suspicions Wednesday. Additional tests Thursday at the Medical University of South Carolina confirmed the diagnosis.

His chemotherapy starts next week, he said, because the cancer is considered inoperable for the time being.

Hoisington, 58, called his prognosis "cautiously optimistic," given the advances in treatment in the last five years. But he conceded, "It's a bad cancer, no doubt about that."

Pancreatic cancer develops when cancerous cells form in the tissues of the pancreas, an organ that secretes enzymes to aid digestion and hormones that work to regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Mayo doctors warn that signs or symptoms of pancreatic cancer may not appear until the disease is well into its advanced stages, including after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Pancreatic cancer has not been linked to any particular lifestyle, diet or environment, such as the way lung cancer would be for smokers,said Dr. Nestor Esnaola, a surgical oncologist at MUSC. Hoisington said he doesn't smoke and hasn't eaten red meat in 30 years.

Hoisington, who has a wife and two young sons, called his battle "a learning opportunity, a growth opportunity," and added that his view on life has changed greatly in the last few days.

The news hit particularly hard in Charleston's legal and political community, where numerous attorneys have had professional and personal relationships with Hoisington going back decades.

Hoisington has been the chief elected prosecutor for Charleston and Berkeley counties since 2000.

Before that he had a career as a deputy solicitor, assistant U.S. attorney, municipal judge for Mount Pleasant and a private-practice attorney.

Charleston lawyer Steve Schmutz, his oldest and closest friend, said that "if anybody can beat this thing, he'll beat it."

"People get sick, they get well," he added.

Another close friend, former U.S. Attorney Bart Daniel, said, "We're all going to be right there with him."

Charleston County Republican Party Chairwoman Cyndi Mosteller said Hoisington has proven to be "an outstanding public fighter against things that are not good" in his role as a prosecutor. The community is behind him "1,000 percent" in his medical fight, she said.

There are no plans for Hoisington to step down and he's expected in his office today.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551, or skropf@postandcourier.com.