Whether you are thinking about treatment, getting treatment, or not being treated at all, you can still get supportive care to help with pain or other symptoms. Communicating with your cancer care team is important so you understand your diagnosis, what treatment is recommended, and ways to maintain or improve your quality of life.
Different types of programs and support services may be helpful, and can be an important part of your care. These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, nutritional advice, rehab, or spiritual help.
The American Cancer Society also has programs and services — including rides to treatment, lodging, and more — to help you get through treatment. Call our National Cancer Information Center at and speak with one of our trained specialists. For some people, when treatments have been tried and are no longer controlling the cancer, it could be time to weigh the benefits and risks of continuing to try new treatments. Whether or not you continue treatment, there are still things you can do to help maintain or improve your quality of life.
Some people, especially if the cancer is advanced, might not want to be treated at all. Remember that even if you choose not to treat the cancer, you can still get supportive care to help with pain or other symptoms. The treatment information given here is not official policy of the American Cancer Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team.
It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor. Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don't hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.
Download this topic [PDF]. Many people are unaware of how deadly pancreatic cancer can be. Even Dr. Silverstein learned something new after his diagnosis. Initially, he believed there was a cure for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, which starts in the pancreatic ducts. While certain treatments can shrink and control the cancer, trace amounts will never leave your body. Geister says that pancreatic cancer is projected to be the leading cause of cancer deaths by , which makes it crucial to pay attention to early warning signs.
The pancreas acts as a factory of sorts, as it helps produce digestive juices to help break down food and creates important hormones to regulate your blood sugar. Exocrine cells produce the digestive juices, while endocrine cells produce the hormones, such as insulin.
For example, cancer in the pancreas can disrupt enzymes from getting to your intestines to process fats you consume, leading to greasy or light-colored stools.
It can also affect how your body absorbs important nutrients, causing weight loss and fatigue. In the event the cancer starts in endocrine cells, you may begin to develop dark-colored urine. The tricky part is many of these symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, mirror everyday issues. A tumor growth pressing on your stomach or spine can cause abdominal or back pain.
But, without knowing you have a tumor, your initial reaction may be to see a doctor for muscular pain. Often, the location of your cancer can determine some symptoms, which could serve as a lifesaver.
The pancreas resembles a flat pear, sectioned off into a head, body and tail. The head is closest to the liver, gallbladder and intestines. A growth in this area can affect your bile duct, leading to jaundice. Sure enough, with Dr. Silverstein, the yellowed eyes his nurse noticed in turned out to be jaundice.
He scheduled a CT scan and had blood work done. His labs showed elevated liver functions, and the scan showed a 2. Early, aggressive treatments are just as important as early detection.
Silverstein says pancreatic cancer patients should move swiftly, especially if they need surgery. Geister says. The powerful combination gets its name from the four medications that make it up — leucovorin calcium , leucovorin fluorouracil , irinotecan hydrochloride and oxaliplatin. Eight days after Dr. John P. Duffy , a hepatobiliary and abdominal transplant surgeon at the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute , performed a Whipple procedure, a type of surgery that treats pancreatic cancer.
Duffy removed the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, part of the stomach and other nearby tissues. Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at this late stage because it rarely causes symptoms until it has spread to other sites. Symptoms you might experience at this advanced stage include:.
Stage 4 pancreatic cancer cannot be cured, but treatments can relieve symptoms and prevent complications from the cancer. These treatments can include:. The five-year survival rate for stage 4 pancreatic cancer is 3 percent.
Stage 3 pancreatic cancer is a tumor in the pancreas and possibly nearby sites, such as lymph nodes or blood vessels. Pancreatic cancer at this stage has not spread to distant sites.
Pancreatic cancer is called a silent cancer because it is often not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage. If you have symptoms of stage 3 pancreatic cancer, you may experience:. Stage 3 pancreatic cancer is difficult to cure, but treatments can help prevent the spread of the cancer and ease symptoms caused by the tumor. These treatments may include:. The five-year survival rate for stage 3 pancreatic cancer is 3 to 12 percent. The majority of people with this stage of the cancer will have a recurrence.
Stage 2 pancreatic cancer is cancer that remains in the pancreas and may have spread to a few nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to nearby tissues or blood vessels, and it has not spread to sites elsewhere in the body. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect in the early stages, including stage 2. If you do have symptoms at this early stage, you may experience:. Your doctor may use a combination of these approaches to help shrink the tumor and prevent possible metastases. The five-year survival rate for people with stage 2 pancreatic cancer is around 30 percent.
Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the stage of cancer. It has two goals: to kill cancerous cells and to prevent the spread of the disease. Weight loss, bowel obstruction, abdominal pain, and liver failure are among the most common complications during pancreatic cancer treatment.
The decision to use surgery to treat pancreatic cancer comes down to two things: the location of the cancer and the stage of the cancer. Surgery can remove all or some portions of the pancreas. This can eliminate the original tumor, but it will not remove cancer that has spread to other portions of the body. Surgery may not be suitable for people with advanced stage pancreatic cancer for that reason. Other treatment options must be explored once the cancer spreads outside of the pancreas.
Radiation therapy uses X-rays and other high-energy beams to kill the cancer cells. In some cases, your doctor might combine other treatments with chemotherapy , which uses cancer-killing drugs to help prevent future growth of cancer cells. This type of cancer treatment uses drugs or other measures to specifically target cancer cells and work to destroy them.
These drugs are designed not to harm healthy or normal cells. The survival rates for pancreatic cancer have been improving in recent decades. Research and new treatments are expanding the average five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
However, the disease is still considered difficult to cure. Because pancreatic cancer typically does not cause symptoms until the cancer is in advanced stages, the likelihood the cancer has spread, or metastasized, is high. That make it hard to treat or eliminate the cancer. Combining alternative measures with traditional medical treatments may help to improve your quality of life.
Yoga, meditation, and light exercise might promote a sense of well-being and make you feel better during treatment. Early diagnosis significantly increases the chances of recovery. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history. They may order one or more tests to check for pancreatic cancer, such as:. The five-year survival rate for all stages of pancreatic cancer is 9 percent.
You may also consider:. Two types of surgery, Whipple procedure or a pancreatectomy , can remove a portion or all of the pancreas. This will eliminate the initial cancer tumor. Unfortunately, the majority of pancreatic cancers are not found and diagnosed until the cancer is in an advanced stage and spread beyond the original site.
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