Despite its poor prognosis, pancreatic cancer has the potential to be cured if caught early. In fact, up to 10 percent of patients who receive an early diagnosis become disease-free after treatment.
The best way to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer is to identify its stage, which tells how big the tumor is, if it has spread (metastasized) or where it has spread. Getting this information from your doctor is essential to determining your treatment plan.
Stage 4 – Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
In some cases, the cancer has spread to other parts of your body, like the lungs or the liver. This is called metastatic pancreatic cancer and it’s usually harder to cure than localized (stage 3) or non-metastatic pancreatic cancer.
There are many ways to treat this stage of pancreatic cancer, depending on your health. Some people may need to have surgery to remove part of the tumor, while others might get a combination of chemotherapy and radiation treatments to try to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
The aim of this type of treatment is to improve your quality of life, relieve your symptoms and prolong your life. Sadly, it won’t be able to cure this stage of the disease, but it can help you feel better and give you more time.
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for pancreatic cancer, and it can help you live longer while controlling any symptoms you might have. It can also make you feel more energy and reduce fatigue.
Clinical trials can offer new treatments that haven’t been tried before. These research studies compare new treatments to standard care and help doctors find better ways to treat pancreatic cancer.
You might be able to participate in a clinical trial that tests a new drug or a different type of chemotherapy. Ask your doctor about the different trials available for you.
Surgical Resection
About 15 to 20 percent of people with stage 4 pancreatic cancer have their tumors removed through surgery. This is the most effective way to treat this stage of the disease, according to the American Society for Clinical Oncology.
Surgical resection of the tumor can also prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body, which can improve survival rates. On average, people whose tumors were resected have a five-year survival rate of 20 to 30 percent.
A surgeon will perform a resection by cutting through the fatty tissue and muscle around the pancreas. They might also cut out some of the liver or spleen.
Some resections will include the removal of part of your pancreas, which is called a cystectomy. This can be done to prevent the cancer from regrowing, and it can also stop it from blocking your bile duct.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are also possible at this stage of the disease, as well as other types of treatments, such as immunotherapy drugs or targeted cancer medicines. Some of these medicines can help your immune system fight the cancer, while others can prevent it from growing and forming.
