Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

For people with pancreatic cancer, treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of treatment methods. Pancreatic cancer can only be cured when it is detected in its early stages, so some patients may choose to receive palliative therapy (which is focused on improving quality of life) when a cure is not possible. For some people with pancreatic cancer, treatment options to consider may include participating in a clinical trial.

 

Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: An Overview

At this time, pancreatic cancer can only be cured if it is found at an early stage (before it has spread) and only if the patient is healthy enough to have surgery. However, pancreatic cancer treatment other than surgery may be used to control the disease and to help patients live longer and feel better. When a cure or treatment of the disease is not possible, some patients and their doctors choose palliative therapy. Palliative therapy aims to improve the quality of a person's life by controlling pain and other problems caused by the disease.
 
For purposes of this article, the term "pancreatic cancer" refers to cancer that begins in the ducts that carry pancreatic juices (exocrine cells). This type of cancer accounts for about 95 percent of all cases of pancreatic cancer.
 
(For information about treatment options for a less common type of pancreatic cancer, see the eMedTV article on Pancreatic Islet Cell Cancer.)
 
Some factors that may influence pancreatic cancer treatment options include:
 
  • The stage of the cancer (see Stages of Pancreatic Cancer)
  • The location where the tumor originated
  • Whether the cancer has spread outside the pancreas
  • The patient's age and general health.
 
In general, pancreatic cancer treatment options include:
 
 
Doctors should describe pancreatic cancer treatment options and the expected results of each to their patient. Patients should work with their doctors to develop a treatment plan that meets their medical needs and personal values. Choosing the most appropriate pancreatic cancer treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the family, and the healthcare team.
 
Treatment generally begins a few weeks after the diagnosis, which will usually give the patient time to talk to their doctor about treatment choices, get a second opinion, and learn more about the disease.
 
(Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD