Treatment for pancreatic cancer

Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on:

• the stage and grade of the cancer
• the position of the cancer in the pancreas
• your general health and preferences

For many people their main treatment is chemotherapy to control the cancer and to relieve symptoms. There are also other treatments and things that can be done to control symptoms and help you to feel better.

Your doctor may explain your treatment based on whether surgery:

• can remove the cancer (resectable)
• cannot remove the cancer (unresectable).

This will depend on the stage of the cancer and also on your general health.

Borderline resectable is when it may be possible to remove a cancer that has spread to nearby blood vessels (locally advanced). Because it’s in blood vessels it makes it difficult for the surgeon to remove the whole cancer and an area of healthy tissue around it (a clear margin). If it is not possible to get a clear margin, the risk of the cancer coming back is high. Only a small number of people can have surgery in this situation.

You may have chemotherapy first to shrink the tumour. The surgeon then decides if an operation is possible. If it is not, you will continue to have treatment with chemotherapy.

Surgery is not possible when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the liver or lungs (metastatic). You may have chemotherapy to shrink the cancer and relieve symptoms. Chemotherapy may help some people live for longer.

You may need treatments to relieve jaundice or other symptoms caused by a blocked bile duct or bowel. There are different drugs and treatments that can be used to control any pain or other symptoms. This is called supportive care.

You can read more about this in our information about controlling the symptoms of pancreatic cancer.