Pancreatic cancer or exocrine cancer is a disease where malignant cells appear in the tissues of the pancreas.
The pancreas is a yellowish organ behind the stomach about six to seven inches long. It produces digestive internal and external secretions. The pancreatic juice contains enzymes that facilitate digestion by breaking down large molecules into simple sugars. The secreted hormones work together to regulate sugar level in the blood.
Conventional pancreas cancer treatment options are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
Surgery is a pancreas cancer treatment option. Surgical oncologists can perform difficult and complex surgical procedures for pancreatic cancer. Some surgical procedures include the whipple procedure, distal and total pancreatectomies, and surgical palliative procedures. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be applied in addition to surgery. These other conventional treatment options may be performed before or after surgery.
When a tumor appear to be inoperable, innovative radiation therapies can be a pancreas cancer treatment option. Radiation therapies may be offered alone or paired with a surgery and chemotherapy, or both, to treat pancreatic cancer and relieve its symptoms. The position of the pancreas (hidden behind other organs), radiation therapy requires a high level of accuracy and precision. New techniques have been developed to offer the most targeted radiation treatment for pancreas cancer. An advanced radiation therapy delivery system targets difficult-to-reach cancers in the pancreas. It also allows higher radiation doses focused on pancreatic cancer cells with reduced doses to normal pancreatic tissue.
Chemotherapy is a common cancer treatment and is one of the most chosen pancreas cancer treatment. Innovative treatment delivery allows a combination of medications customized to fit the individual patient’s needs. Chemotherapy can be administered alone or in combination with other pancreatic cancer treatments like radiation therapy or surgery. The drugs used in chemotherapy are designed to kill pancreatic cancer cells by intervention of their growth and reproduction. The drugs are typically given intravenously, orally, or by injection. The potential side effects of chemotherapy are unpleasant. These may be nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hair loss, and mouth sores. Multiple measures can help reduce chemotherapy related side effects. Pre-medications may help make the symptoms more tolerable.
Immunotherapy or biotherapy is a pancreas cancer treatment that uses the immune system to fight pancreatic cancer or lessen the side effects caused by other pancreatic cancer treatments. The goal is to stop, control, or interfere with the cancer cells’ proliferation, make pancreatic cancer cells more recognizable, boost the power of immune system cells, alter pancreatic cancer cell’s growth patterns to promote similar behavior to that of the healthy cells, enhance the body’s natural ability to repair damaged cells, and prevent the cancer cells from having metastases to other body parts.
Supportive pancreatic cancer therapies are also available as pancreas cancer treatment options. Nutrition therapy involves the application of nutrition and diet in the fight against the disease. Naturopathic medicine is the use of natural medicine such as herbs, vitamins, and minerals. Pain management is a method that increases the levels of comfort and physical well-being. Spiritual support is the involvement of spiritual awareness to strengthen the patient. Image enhancement focuses on ways to improve physical appearance while going through cancer treatments.
