Overview of treatment for pancreatic cancer

The type of treatment you will be offered depends on the particular type of cancer of the pancreas| you have, the stage| of the cancer, its size, and your general health.

Surgery| to remove all or part of the pancreas is the most effective treatment for early-stage pancreatic cancer. This is only suitable if the cancer is small and hasn’t spread.

However, many pancreatic cancers are not diagnosed until the cancer is quite advanced. If the cancer is too large, or has already spread beyond the pancreas when it’s diagnosed, surgery to remove the pancreas is not possible. Learning that your cancer has spread, and therefore that certain treatments are not suitable for you, is distressing news to cope with. Your doctor will advise you about the treatments that are most likely to help in your situation.

Chemotherapy| (anti-cancer drugs) and radiotherapy| (high-energy x-rays) may be used for cancers that have not spread but where an operation isn’t possible. They may be given separately or together. Chemotherapy can also be used if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the liver.

Treatment for pancreatic cancer also includes treatments to control symptoms and make you feel more comfortable, known as supportive care|.