Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Treatment of Cancer of the pancreas

The specialists treating you will first find out what stage the cancer is at. This means how advanced the cancer is, how fast it is growing, and if it has spread to your lymph nodes, or other organs such as your stomach. This will help them decide on the best course of treatment for you.

Cancer of the pancreas can be very difficult to treat and in many cases, the cancer is found to have spread to other parts of the body. If your cancer cannot be cured, it may be possible to slow its growth, however the treatment will receive will mainly be to reduce any pain you are in and make you as comfortable as possible (palliative care).

If it is caught early, you may have surgery to remove all or part of the pancreas. You may have to have part of your stomach, gall bladder and duodenum (the first bit of your small intestine) removed too. This is called a pancreatoduodenectomy or Whipple’s procedure; it is a major operation and only people who are otherwise fit and healthy can have it. Only 10% of people have an operation to try to cure cancer of the pancreas. The other 90% of people may have other health problems that prevent them having an operation, or the cancer may be so advanced that an operation is not possible.

If your bile ducts are blocked you may have an operation to unblock them. This is called a cholecystoenterostomy. Other procedures to unblock the bile ducts are called ERCP and PTC – they involve widening the bile duct and inserting a tube (stent) to drain the blocked fluids.

Some people have a by-pass operation to treat some of the symptoms of cancer of the pancreas. This involves joining two organs together and by-passing another and can relieve the symptoms of jaundice or indigestion.

After surgery you may have chemotherapy or radiotherapy to try to stop the cancer coming back. This may or may not be successful. These treatments have various side effects that your doctor will discuss with you.

• Caesarean sectionCancerCancer of the bile ductCancer of the bladderCancer of the boneCancer of the brainCancer of the breastCancer of the breast, maleCancer of the cervixCancer of the colon, rectum or bowelCancer of the kidneyCancer of the larynxCancer of the liverCancer of the lungCancer of the mouthCancer of the oesophagusCancer of the ovaryCancer of the pancreasCancer of the prostateCancer of the skinCancer of the stomachCancer of the testicleCancer of the thyroidCancer of the uterusCancer of the vaginaCancer of the vulvaCarbon monoxide poisoningCarersCarpal tunnel syndromeCartilage damageCataract surgeryCataractsCatarrhCavernous sinus thrombosisCEA testCellulitisCerebral palsyCerebrovascular diseaseCervical screening testCervical spondylosisCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChemotherapyChest infectionChickenpoxChildren in careChiropracticChlamydiaChloride testCholesterolChorionic Villus samplingChronic fatigue syndromeChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCircumcisionCirrhosisCleft lip and palateClinical trialsClub footCoeliac diseaseCognitive behavioural therapyCold soreCold, commonColicColostomyColour vision deficiencyColposcopyCombined contraceptive pillComplaints about NHS servicesComplementary therapiesComplex Regional Pain SyndromeCondoms (male and female)Congenital heart diseaseCongestive heart failureConjunctivitisConsent to treatmentConstipationContraceptionContraceptive implants and injectionsContraceptive patchCoronary angioplastyCoronary artery bypassCoronary heart diseaseCorticosteroid (drugs)Corticosteroid preparations (topical)Cosmetic surgeryCoughCounsellingCradle capCraniosynostosisCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseCrohn's diseaseCroupCT scanCushing's syndromeCuts and grazesCystic fibrosisCystitisCystoscopyCytomegalovirus

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