More than 26,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year, according to the Johns Hopkins University Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. Pancreatic cancer most often develops in people older than 50. Smoking increases a person's risk for the illness, but genetics also plays a role, with between 5 percent and 10 percent of cases inherited. Several different treatment options are available, but pancreatic cancer is still considered largely incurable.
The Whipple
A surgical procedure called the Whipple is the most effective form of treatment for pancreatic cancer, according to the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University. The procedure involves removing the head of the pancreas along with part of the stomach and small intestine and the gallbladder and bile duct. The remaining pancreas is sufficient to produce insulin and digestive juices.
Evidence suggests that the best outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients are for those treated at major medical experiences that have experience treating the condition and perform more than 20 Whipple procedures a year, according to the Hirschberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Other Surgical Procedures
Besides the Whipple, two other surgical procedures can be performed to treat pancreatic cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. A total pancreatectomy involves removal of the entire pancreas, the gallbladder, the bile duct, the spleen, surrounding lymph nodes and part of the stomach and small intestine. A distal pancreatectomy is removal of the head and tail of the organ as well as the spleen.
Several other types of surgery can be performed in an attempt to make a person with pancreatic cancer more comfortable. For example, biliary bypass can be performed if the tumor is blocking the small intestine and gastric bypass is an option for people whose tumors are preventing food from flowing out of the stomach.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of oral or intravenous drugs to kill cancerous cells. For people with pancreatic cancer, chemotherapy can be used at any stage of the illness. It is often given to people who are going to undergo surgery to remove a tumor to help it shrink before the procedure, according to the American Cancer Society. Chemotherapy has some well-known side effects, including hair loss, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue and increased risk of infection.
Radiation
Radiation is another treatment option for people with pancreatic cancer. The treatment involves the use of high energy rays to shrink tumors by killing cancerous cells. Radiation therapy is often used either before or after a patient undergoes surgery to remove the tumor, according to the American Cancer Society. Treatment usually continues over several weeks and can cause weight loss, fatigue, sunburn and stomach upset.
New Therapies
The Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins is working on two new treatments to treat pancreatic cancer. Researchers have created a vaccine that may be effective in preventing the illness in people who have a genetic predisposition. to be used to treat pancreatic cancer. Researchers have also identified the genes that may play a role in the development of the cancer and are trying to engineer a gene therapy that could be used to treat or prevent the condition.
Prognosis
Despite treatment advances, pancreatic cancer is still largely incurable, according to the Hirschberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. The one-year relative survival rate is 20 percent and the five-year survival rate is 4 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. One reason for the low survival rate is because more than 90 percent of patients have cancer that has spread beyond the pancreas at the time of diagnosis.
