Patient education: Pancreatic cancer (The Basics)

What is pancreatic cancer? — 

This is when normal cells in the pancreas change into abnormal cells and grow out of control. The pancreas is an organ that sits behind the stomach (figure 1). It makes hormones and juices that help the body break down food.

What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer? — 

Symptoms can include:

●Pain – People can have pain that spreads from the stomach area around to the back. The pain can come and go, and it can get worse after eating.

●Weight loss – People might not feel hungry, or might feel full after eating very little.

●Diarrhea – Bowel movements can look greasy or be difficult to flush.

●Yellowing of the skin, called "jaundice" – Both the skin and the white part of the eyes can turn yellow. When jaundice happens in people with pancreatic cancer, it is usually because 1 of the tubes that carry bile from the gallbladder to the intestines is blocked. (The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that stores bile, a fluid that helps the body break down fat.) If a bile duct gets blocked, it can also cause bowel movements to look gray instead of brown.

These symptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not pancreatic cancer. But if you have these symptoms, tell your doctor or nurse.

Is there a test for pancreatic cancer? — 

Yes. If your doctor suspects that you have pancreatic cancer, they will order 1 or more tests. These can include:

●Blood tests

●Imaging tests – These might include an ultrasound, CT scan, MRI scan, or "endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography" ("ERCP"). These create pictures of the inside of the body and can show abnormal growths.

●Biopsy – A doctor takes a small sample of tissue from the pancreas. If the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas, they might instead take a sample from another part of the body, such as the liver. Then, another doctor looks at the sample under a microscope to check for cancer.

What is cancer staging? — 

Cancer staging is a way in which doctors find out how far a cancer has spread.

The right treatment for you depends a lot on the stage of your cancer. Your treatment also depends on your age and other medical problems.

How is pancreatic cancer treated? — 

You might be offered 1 or more of these treatments:

●Surgery – Pancreatic cancer can sometimes be treated with surgery to remove the cancer. Before surgery, a doctor might do a procedure called "laparoscopy." For this, a doctor makes small cuts in the belly. They put a thin tube with a camera on it inside the belly to check whether the cancer has spread outside of the pancreas.

●Chemotherapy – These are medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.

●Radiation therapy – This kills cancer cells.

●Immunotherapy – These are medicines that work with the body's infection-fighting system (the "immune system") to stop cancer growth.

●Targeted therapy – Some medicines work only for cancers with certain characteristics. Your doctor might test your cancer to see if it would respond to these medicines.

Pancreatic cancer can sometimes be cured through treatment. This is most likely for people whose cancer is found at an early stage. Even if your cancer cannot be cured, your doctor can treat your symptoms. For example, they can prescribe medicines or a procedure called a "celiac plexus block" to reduce pain.

What happens after treatment? — 

You will be checked regularly to see if the cancer comes back. Follow-up tests usually include exams, blood tests, and imaging tests. If the cancer comes back after treatment, you might get chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. You might also get pain medicine or other treatments to help with pain.

What else should I do? — 

Follow all your doctor's instructions about visits and tests. It's also important to talk to your doctor about any side effects or problems you have during treatment.

Getting treated for pancreatic cancer involves making many choices, such as which treatment to have.

Always let your doctors and nurses know how you feel about a treatment. Any time you are offered a treatment, ask:

●What are the benefits of this treatment? Is it likely to help me live longer? Will it reduce or prevent symptoms?

●What are the downsides to this treatment?

●Are there other options besides this treatment?

●What happens if I do not have this treatment?

More on this topic

Patient education: Chronic pancreatitis (The Basics)
Patient education: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (The Basics)
Patient education: Chemotherapy (The Basics)
Patient education: Whipple procedure (The Basics)
Patient education: CA 19-9 test (The Basics)

Patient education: Pancreatic cancer (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) (Beyond the Basics)