What to expect after pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Pancreatic cancer occurs in the pancreas. In the U.S. in 2015, it’s estimated that about 48,960 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and about 40,560 people will die of pancreatic cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3 percent of all cancer cases, and about 7 percent of cancer deaths.

Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer does not have the best prognosis. Even with an early diagnosis, pancreatic cancer is not easily treatable. This type of cancer spreads very quickly and is tough to detect early on, making it a leading cause of cancer death. In addition, the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer do not often arise until the disease is in an advanced stage when treatment options are limited.

Surgery is an option for only about 20 percent of pancreatic cancer patients. Radiation and chemotherapy treatments will most likely also be recommended because they can help reduce the size of tumors. During your treatment, a doctor will do frequent blood tests and imaging scans in order to track your progress. The results of these tests will help monitor how your body is responding to the treatment. It also helps determine if surgery is an option to remove the malignant tumors from your body.  

Deciding which treatment option is best can be a difficult decision. It’s important to discuss these options with your doctor to discuss the pros, cons, potential risks, and side effects of each option. Ultimately, the most important factors when deciding on a treatment plan include whether the cancer can be surgically removed and the state of your overall health. The most common options for treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, chemoradiation therapy, and targeted therapy.

Treatment options:

• Surgery: removal of the tumor
  • If cancer has not spread beyond pancreas: Whipple procedure, total pancreatectomy, distal pancreatectomy
  • If cancer has spread beyond pancreas, the following may be done to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life: Surgical biliary bypass, endoscopic stent placement, gastric bypass
• Radiation therapy: uses radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.
• Chemotherapy: uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells by killing them.
• Chemoradiation therapy: combines chemo and radiation therapy to increase effectiveness of both.
• Targeted therapy: uses drugs or other substances to target and attack cancer cells without harming healthy cells.