An endoscopic stent placement may be necessary if the tumor is blocking the bile duct. The stent (a thin tube) is used to drain bile that has built up in the area. The doctor may place the stent through a catheter that drains to the outside of the body, or the stent may go around the blocked area (which will allow the bile to drain into the small intestine).
Gastric Bypass
A gastric bypass may be needed if the tumor is blocking the flow of food from the stomach. In this surgery, the stomach may be sewn directly to the small intestine so that the patient can continue to eat normally.
Recovering From Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
Patients may feel weak or tired after pancreatic cancer surgery, and the recovery time after pancreatic cancer surgery varies for each patient. The side effects of surgery will depend on the extent of the pancreatic cancer, the person's general health, and other factors. Most patients experience pain for the first few days after surgery, which may be controlled with medicine. Patients should discuss pain relief with the doctor or nurse before surgery.
(Click Pain With Pancreatic Cancer for more information about managing pain associated with surgery to remove the cancer.)
Partial or total pancreas removal may make it hard for a patient to digest foods. After pancreatic cancer surgery, some patients are fed liquids intravenously and through feeding tubes that are placed into the abdomen. Patients will gradually return to eating normally, and the feeding tubes will be removed.
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