Pancreatic cancer may only be cured if found in the early stages of the disease. By the fourth stage the cancer has spread throughout the body, making some forms of treatments ineffective. Pancreatic cancer treatments given at advanced stages of the disease focus on relief of symptoms and improving the length and quality of life, according to the Lorenzen Cancer Foundation.
Surgery
Surgery for the removal of cancer is only effective in the early stages of pancreatic cancer, before it has spread throughout the body. The National Cancer Society indicates that surgery conducted at stage four pancreatic cancer focuses on relief of symptoms and the reduction of suffering caused by the cancer, known as palliative surgery. Surgeons may place stents inside the body to bypass blocked bile ducts and obstructions in the small intestines.
Chemotherapy
The Lorenzen Cancer Foundation states that chemotherapy is the primary treatment used in advanced stage pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy consists of drugs given orally or intravenously that disrupt the life cycle of cells in the body. The Lorenzen Cancer Foundation states that while these drugs tend to have a greater effect on cancerous cells due to their unstable nature, chemotherapy usually also damages healthy cells throughout the body. Further, the Lorenzen Cancer Foundation indicates that some research shows that chemotherapy yields increased effectiveness when multiple types are used. Side effects of chemotherapy, according to the National Cancer Institute, include increased risk of infections, bleeding and bruising, persistent fatigue and weakness, loss of hair, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and the development of sores on the mouth and lips.
Targeted Therapy
Another treatment option for advanced stage pancreatic cancer involves targeted drug treatment. Often used along with chemotherapy, MayoClinic.com states that these drugs work to block the functioning of cancerous cells by interfering with chemicals that cause them to grow and divide. These drugs are administered orally and may slow the spread of cancer in the body. The National Cancer Institute identifies several side effects associated with this form of treatment, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rash and shortness of breath.
Palliative Treatments
These types of treatment do not focus on curing the cancer; rather, involve treating symptoms and improving quality of life. Efforts to reduce pain may involve use of pain medication and performing nerve-blocking procedures, according to the National Cancer Institute. As jaundice may be a complication of pancreatic cancer, procedures may be performed to relieve bile duct obstructions causing the condition. Additionally, supportive care measures may be put in place, potentially involving counseling or a service such as Hospice.
Clinical Trials
MayoClinic.com indicates that clinical trials involve use of new drugs, methods of surgery and radiation and forms of gene therapy. Stage four pancreatic cancer is unlikely to be cured by current conventional methods; however, clinical trials provide a possibility of more effective treatment. MayoClinic.com warns that these new treatments may have "serious or unexpected side effects." The American Cancer Society indicates that entering in a clinical trial should be considered when other forms of treatments described above do not appear effective.
