Pancreatic cancer treatment varies depending on the stage of the disease, the location of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and other factors. The main treatments include:
- Surgery: The primary treatment for pancreatic cancer that hasn't spread outside the pancreas. Types of surgeries might include:
- Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy): Removal of the head of the pancreas and sometimes other parts of the digestive system.
- Distal pancreatectomy: Removal of the tail and possibly a portion of the body of the pancreas.
- Total pancreatectomy: Removal of the entire pancreas along with parts of the stomach, small intestine, and other nearby tissues.
- Radiation therapy: This uses high-energy rays to target and kill cancer cells. It can be used before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. It's also used to relieve symptoms in advanced stages.
- Chemotherapy: Drugs are used to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. Chemotherapy can be given before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) to shrink tumors, after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to kill any remaining cells, or as the main treatment if the cancer is advanced.
- Targeted therapy: This approach uses drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells, usually while doing little damage to normal cells. For pancreatic cancer, targeted therapies might be used for tumors that have specific genetic mutations.
- Immunotherapy: This is a relatively newer form of cancer treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight the cancer. It is more commonly used for cancers that have certain molecular features.
- Palliative care: In advanced cases, the focus may shift to palliative care, which aims to improve the quality of life by managing symptoms and side effects of the cancer and its treatment.
The choice of treatment often involves a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and gastroenterologists. The treatment plan often involves a combination of these methods and is personalized based on the patient's specific situation, including the cancer stage, location, and the patient's overall health. Regular follow-up and monitoring by your GW Cancer Center team are essential to assess the treatment's effectiveness and manage any side effects or complications.
