Multidisciplinary approach
The way in which pancreatic cancer is treated will depend on the type and stage of the cancer. Radiation therapy may be used alone, with surgery, with chemotherapy, or with surgery and chemotherapy. For this reason, the treatment of pancreatic cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach. Dr. Amendola and the oncology staff at ICI will coordinate with other members of your cancer care team to ensure proper treatment and management of your disease.
Understanding your treatment options
The most common treatment options for pancreatic cancer include radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is treatment with high energy rays (such as x-rays) to kill or shrink cancer cells. Treatment is usually given 5 times a week for 5 weeks. Sometimes the radiation is given before surgery, sometimes after. Modern techniques such as CyberKnife, IGRT, IMRT, and Varian RapidArc™ techniques have shown to be excellent tools for controlling pancreatic cancer. RapidArc™ technology delivers more precise beam shaping than conventional therapy, in a fraction of the time. Shorter treatment times allow for higher doses of radiation to be given with fewer side effects.
- RapidArc™
- Three-dimensional 3-D conformal radiation therapy
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- CyberKnife
Surgery
There are 2 general types of surgery used for cancer of the pancreas:
- Potentially curative surgery
The type of surgery most often done if it looks like the cancer can be cured is called the Whipple procedure. - Palliative surgery
This procedure may be done if tests show that the tumor is too extensive to be completely removed. Surgery is done to relieve symptoms or to prevent certain problems, such as blockage of the bile ducts or the intestine by the cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Drugs travel throughout the body, making this treatment useful for cancer that has spread beyond the place where it started.