PANCREATIC CANCER TREATMENTS

Pancreatic cancer can be treated by any of the three standard modalities: surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.

If the imaging studies show that the cancer is contained within the pancreas, the doctors will attempt surgery to remove all the cancer. Depending on the location of the tumor, different types of surgery can be performed, where either the whole pancreas or only parts of the pancreas are removed. If, however, the imaging studies show that the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas and cannot be completely removed, the doctors will perform surgery to relieve symptoms, or to prevent complications.

If the tumor is too widespread to be removed by surgery, radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy is used.