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Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is treated in our Bile Duct, Gallbladder, Liver, and Pancreas Cancer Program within the Upstate Cancer Center.

For more information or answers to your questions about our Cancer Care, please call 315 464-HOPE (4673) to speak with an Upstate Cancer Center representative.

Definition

Pancreatic cancer is the growth of cancer cells in the pancreas. The pancreas is a digestive organ. It makes digestive enzymes and hormones.

The Pancreas
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Causes

Cancer happens when cells divide without control or order. These cells grow together to form a tumor. They can invade and damage nearby tissues. They can also spread to other parts of the body.

It is not clear what causes changes in the cells. It is likely a combination of genes and environment.

Risk Factors

Pancreatic cancer is more common in men and people aged 55 years old and older. Other things that raise the risk are:

Symptoms

Pancreatic cancer does not usually cause symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms occur, the cancer has often spread outside the pancreas.

Symptoms may be:

  • Weight loss without trying
  • Pain—in the upper belly, which may spread to the back
  • Dark urine (pee), tan stool (poop), loose stools, or stool that floats
  • Lack of hunger
  • Weakness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Itching
  • Jaundice—yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done. The doctor may order blood and urine tests, and check for hidden blood in the stool.

Imaging tests help confirm the diagnosis. They check the pancreas and surrounding structures and may include:

A biopsy may be done—a sample of pancreatic tissue will be taken and tested.

The exam and test results are used to diagnose the cancer. They also help determine staging. Pancreatic cancer is staged from 0 to 4. The lower the number the less the cancer has spread.

Treatment

The goal is to remove the cancer, if possible, and to ease symptoms. Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the stage of the cancer.

Surgery may be done to help treat the cancer. If the cancer has spread too far, surgery is sometimes also done to ease symptoms. Surgery may include:

  • Whipple procedure—to remove part of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, and some tissues around it
  • Total pancreatectomy—to remove the whole pancreas, part of the small intestine, part of the stomach, the bile duct, the gallbladder, spleen, and nearby lymph nodes
  • Distal pancreatectomy—to remove the body and tail of the pancreas

Other treatments may include:

  • External radiation therapy or internal radiation—to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may be given:
  • Chemotherapy by mouth, injection, or IV—to kill cancer cells.
  • Targeted therapy—drugs that target cancer cells.
  • Immunotherapy—drugs that help the body fight cancer. They are used when cancer starts growing again after chemotherapy.

Most times, pancreatic cancer is found at a later stage. This means that surgery may not be helpful. If surgery cannot be done, then chemotherapy and radiation may be given together. This may increase survival time.

Prevention

The risk of pancreatic cancer may be lowered by:

  • Not smoking
  • Reaching and keeping a healthy weight
  • Eating a healthful, low fat diet
  • Getting regular physical activity
  • Limiting alcohol to:
    • 2 drinks or less per day for men
    • 1 drink per day for women

References

  • General information about pancreatic cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/pancreatic/patient/pancreatic-treatment-pdq.
  • Pancreatic adenocarcinoma. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/pancreatic-adenocarcinoma.
  • Pancreatic cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreatic-cancer.html.
  • Saluja A, Maitra A. Pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Gastroenterology. 2019;156(7):1937-1940.

Library resources related to pancreatic cancer.

For more information:

Internet Links
The detailed guide includes descriptions of the causes, risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, staging, and treatments and what's new in pancreatic cancer research.
Approved drugs for treatment of pancreatic cancer from the National Institute of Health's National Cancer Institute.
Health information on pancreatic cancer from the Mayo Clinic Foundation, includes: description, symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications, tests and diagnosis, treatments and drugs, and alternative medicine.
Link to a search of the MedlinePlus database for health information on pancreatic cancer. MedlinePlus links are managed by medical librarians at the National Library of Medicine.
An electronic booklet about medical care for pancreatic cancer from the National Cancer Institute. The booklet includes information on risk factors, diagnosis, staging, treatment, follow-up care, and cancer research.
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