The good news is that you do not have to undergo invasive surgery to cure pancreas cancer. Surgical treatment is available for only about 10 percent of people with this cancer. Although the cancer is highly aggressive, it can still be treated. A doctor will first remove any growth that may have spread from the pancreas and then determine if it is malignant or benign. Patients who have a benign growth should wait until it becomes malignant before undergoing surgery.
Surgery for pancreas cancer includes removing the head of the organ, the gall bladder, and the first part of the small intestine. The remaining part of the pancreas is joined to the small intestine through an incision in the abdomen. The surgeon will then attach the pancreas to the small intestine through a new blood vessel to restore intestinal continuity. The remaining part of the pancreas, the bile duct, and the vital blood vessels are then reattached to the pancreas.
Surgical treatment for pancreatic cancer is most successful when it is detected early. Unfortunately, the vast majority of cases of pancreatic cancer do not receive adequate medical care until it has spread to lymph nodes. Surgical removal of small cancers can increase the patient’s chance of survival to about 37%. However, no reliable screening test exists to detect the cancer at an early stage, and more research is needed to improve this.
In addition to pancreatic cancer, there are many other causes for it. A common symptom of pancreas cancer is pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to the back. Similarly, some people with pancreas cancer may experience early fullness after meals. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor immediately. However, if the cancer is advanced and is not curable, surgery is usually your only option.
Once the cancer has spread to the surrounding organs, only 15% of patients with pancreas cancer will have a chance of surviving the condition. Because of the aggressive nature of pancreatic cancer, it is very important to seek treatment as soon as possible. While surgery is not an option for many people with pancreas cancer, it is possible to undergo chemotherapy. In addition to chemotherapy, surgery and radiation treatments are also available.
Radiation therapy is another treatment option for pancreas cancer. Radiation therapy uses powerful energy sources to kill cancer cells. It is often combined with chemotherapy. This combination allows for better treatment effects because cancer cells are more susceptible to radiation. It’s often used for larger pancreas cancers. The combination of chemotherapy and surgery is effective in reducing the symptoms of the disease. In addition to surgery, radiation therapy may be used for pancreas cancer that has spread.
Surgical treatment may be necessary if the tumor is located in the bile duct. In this procedure, a thin metal or plastic tube is inserted into the pancreatic duct. A dye is injected into the duct to determine if it is blocked by the tumor. Then, the doctor may insert a fine tube to unblock the blocked ducts. It is important to note that this procedure is not recommended for all patients with pancreas cancer.
