When it’s about treatment options for pancreatic cancer, the cancer stage and its location are critical. While the initial goal may be to remove cancer, the goal may shift to improving the patient’s quality of life. Doctors may choose to focus on limiting the spread or limiting the damage. Several options are regarded as treatment, and these may include surgery, radiation, and therapy.

1. Surgery
Surgery is one of the treatment options for pancreatic cancer. The extent or kind of surgery will depend on the positioning of the tumor.

• Head
  A Whipple procedure is generally recommended when the tumor is in the head of the pancreas. The surgeon decides the part of the pancreas that is to be removed and connects the rest, so the digestion process is minimally affected.
• Body and tail
  Distal pancreatectomy is when the left side of the pancreas is removed. Depending on the case, the surgeon may decide to remove the spleen too.
• Removal of pancreas
  Total pancreatectomy is recommended when the entire pancreas must be removed. While it is possible to survive without the pancreas, the patient may require enzyme replacements and insulin throughout his/her life.
• Surrounding blood vessels
  In certain advanced cancers, the surgeons may recommend pancreatic surgeries that take care of the surrounding blood vessels too. This is done only in certain experienced and specialized medical facilities.

2. Radiation
High-energy beams, much like X-rays and protons, are directed at the tumor to destroy it. The physician usually determines the timing and the number of sessions. The patient may be advised radiation therapy as one of the treatment options for pancreatic cancer before or after surgery. Radiation therapy may be combined with chemotherapy. This is again decided based on individual cases. It is possible to use radiation during surgery, and this is done only in specialized medical clinics.

3. Chemotherapy
The use of medications to treat cancer is called chemotherapy. There are oral medications, and there are those that are given intravenously. Chemotherapy can be used in combination with radiation. It is generally used in cases where cancer has not spread. In certain advanced stages, chemotherapy is used to control the spread of cancer, prolong the patient’s survival, and relieve symptoms.

4. Other therapy
Often, clinical trials are explored, as they provide new methods of radiation or chemotherapy. While these may have unknown or serious side effects, such trials are monitored quite closely. If the clinical studies offer safe treatment options for pancreatic cancer, then they may be adopted as a new standard in the future.

Early detection and diagnosis are always important when it comes to pancreatic cancer. Given above are the best treatment options for pancreatic cancer that patients can choose.