The type of pancreatic cancer treatment received depends on several factors such as the type of cancer, patient’s age and fitness level, general health and the stage of the cancer.  As the operation to remove pancreatic cancer is major, the patient’s general fitness and health are important in order to adequately recover.  Fitness level includes age, however this is not the only factor and the medics will not decide solely upon age.

Treatment will be offered by a multidisciplinary team of specialists including chemotherapists and radiotherapists (oncologists), specialist surgeons, psychologists, nurses, dietitians and other professionals.  They work together to deliver the best treatment and care. 

Sadly, most pancreatic cancer diagnosis is too late for surgery to be successful as the tumor is too big or has spread.  Surgery to remove cancer of the pancreas is complicated and long, hence patient health and fitness is critically important. The doctors will firstly do tests to determine if total removal of the tumor is possible and if so, surgery will be offered.  If however the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, then surgery to excise will unfortunately not cure the patient as the cancer will return making the effort of surgery pointless.  Even if surgery will offer a likely cure, sometimes cancerous cells can break away and enter the blood stream to be carried elsewhere in the body so even if the total pancreatic tumor is removed, it still doesn’t guarantee that the cancer won’t return.  Chemotherapy may be offered post-surgery in order to reduce the chances of it returning. 

Surgery can be conducted to relieve pancreas cancer symptoms such as jaundice.  A tube called a stent is inserted to relieve this or surgery can relieve blockages in the digestive system that may be caused by the cancer.  The duodenum (part of the small bowel) is susceptible to blockage from this type of cancer and so surgery can go around this to aid the digestive system’s continued functioning.

Pancreatic cancer symptoms can be quite general.  The most common type of pancreatic cancer are exocrine tumors.  There is a rarer type that produces hormones which are called endocrine pancreatic tumors.  The symptoms of this are quite specific depending on the hormone produced by the tumor.

Firstly, exocrine tumors can include weight loss, back pain, jaundice and weight loss.  The majority of patients experience jaundice at the first visit to the doctor.  Symptoms of this are yellowing of the whites of the eyes and the skin, darker urine, extreme itching and pale colored feces. 

Other symptoms of pancreatic cancer include sickness, diabetes, a change in bowl movements, shivering and fever.  There are many different types of cancer all manifesting different symptoms such as mesothelioma cancer which is a is a completely different type of cancer and caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma symptoms can be general like chest pain, shortness of breath and a persistent cough as it manifests in the lungs.

Sadly, pancreatic cancer prognosis is not good.  Once the patient is diagnosed with this condition, they are usually only expected to live five to eight months.  However, 20% of patients will live to one year. The pancreatic cancer life expectancy for patients living over five years is very low, at 5%.  These figures are devastating indeed and it is no wonder that this form of cancer is the leading cause of death in the world claiming the lives of 1% of the population of the USA.  Successful pancreatic cancer treatment is low due to the vague nature of the initial symptoms.