Radiation therapy, which uses radiation to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer cells. These can be injected or taken orally. Chemotherapy may be combined with radiation therapy.
Surgery including:
- Whipple procedure, which is for cancer in the head of the pancreas. It involves removing the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, gallbladder and part of the bile duct.
- Distal pancreatectomy, which involves removing the tail of the pancreas. Your spleen may also be removed.
- Total pancreatectomy, which is the removal of the entire pancreas. You will need insulin and enzyme replacement therapy if your pancreas has been removed.
Patients with pancreatic cancer can become jaundiced when the bile duct becomes blocked. In this case, an ERCP can be performed and a stent placed to alleviate jaundice and its associated symptoms.
If you have advanced pancreatic cancer, you will have involvement from the palliative care team, who focus on pain relief and managing symptoms to help you to feel better and live well for as long as possible. There are clinical trials underway currently to advance the treatment of pancreatic cancer including the endoscopic injection or radioactive treatment (Oncosil trial) and you may wish to consider this.