Upstate receives national designation for pancreatic cancer treatment

SYRCUSE, N.Y.-- Upstate University Hospital has been designated as a one of four institutions in New York and the only one outside of New York City as a National Pancreas Foundation Center for the treatment and care of patients with pancreatic cancer.

The designation from the National Pancreas Foundation (NPF) highlights Upstate’s multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatic cancer, treating the whole patient with a focus on the best possible outcomes and improved quality of life.

“Being an approved NPF Center is an important recognition,” said NPF Center Task Force member Dr. Eileen O’Reilly.  “Having the NPF Center designation will distinguish institutions whose focus is on a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach to their care.”

Dilip S. Kittur, MD, professor and division chief of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, said the designation reflects the outstanding care patients receive and Upstate’s array of treatment options for the disease.

“We are honored to be the only center of excellence for pancreas cancer in Upstate New York,” he said. “It recognizes our skilled multidisciplinary team, which evaluates every patient’s case individually to formulate a unique, comprehensive, and compassionate care plan for patients with this potentially devastating disease. We offer state of the art technologies such as robotic pancreatic surgery, stereotactic radiation and advanced chemotherapy to combat even advanced pancreatic cancer.”

Upstate went through an extensive auditing process to meet the criteria developed by a task force. The criteria includes having the required expert physician specialties such as oncologists, gastroenterologists, pancreas surgeons, clinical trials, palliative care, and interventional radiologists, along with more patient-focused programs such as a pain management service, psychosocial support and more.

In March, following a similar audit, Upstate was designed as an NPF Center for Care and Treatment of Pancreas Disease.

Pancreatic cancer  is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths and is more common in men and in people over the age of 40.  Factors that may increase one’s risk of pancreatic cancer include: smoking or use smokeless tobacco excessive use of alcohol, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis, or family nonpolyposis colon cancer syndrome, family or personnel history of certain types of colon polyps or colon cancer, high-fat diet and obesity.

Pancreatic cancer does not have symptoms in the early stages, making it a difficult cancer to diagnose early.  In most cases the cancer has spread outside the pancreas by the time it is discovered.

Symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, pain from upper abdomen to back, yellowing of the skin.

Pancreatic cancer treatments vary and depend largely on how significant cancer spread is when found. Treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or biological therapy, which is the use of medications or substances made by the body.

To reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, maintain a healthy weight and eat a healthy diet.