The treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the patient’s overall health and the progression of the disease. The pancreatic cancer stage is used to describe the location and size of the cancer. The diagnostic and treatment process that is recommended is referred to as standard of care. The standard treatments for pancreatic cancer include radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, or a mix of the three.
The various stages according to which the treatment is based:
Cancer is limited to the top layer of the cells
Local growth which is less than 2 centimeters and no more than 4 centimeters
Cancer is over 4 centimeter and is limited to the pancreas or it has grown outside the pancreas or it has spread to the lymph nodes.
The tumor has expanded to major blood vessels or nerves
The cancer has spread to distant organs
Treatment methods for pancreatic cancer can include the following methods:
1. Surgery
Although 20 percent of people suffering from pancreatic cancer may be eligible for surgery, data shows that up to half of those patients are told they are ineligible. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network recommends that you should check if the surgeon performs a high number of pancreatic surgeries. The doctor first determines if the cancer is removable by surgery. These are described as resectable when the cancer has not spread and the surgeon can remove it. Locally advanced pancreatic cancer grows into the blood vessels and cannot be removed safely. Metastatic cancer spreads to the other organs and surgery cannot remove it; however, it can control it. Surgery is a great option when looking for long-term survival.
2. Chemotherapy
A combination of medications is used to kill cancer cells and stop their growth. Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells by stopping them from growing and dividing. It is given with or without radiation, which can be gemcitabine or 5-FU, which can extend life when the pancreatic cancer is locally advanced.
3. Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses particle waves or electromagnetic waves. This will stop the cancer cells from growing and dividing. A large machine is used to direct the radiation to the pancreas through the abdomen and into the tumor.
The goal is to stop the tumor from growing without harming the other organs or tissues nearby. Radiation and chemotherapy damage normal cells, causing fatigue, weight loss, appetite loss, vomiting, and nausea. Doctors use radiation to destroy cancer cells found in the area after surgery, shrink the tumor, and relieve the pain caused due to the tumor.
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