Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

1. Physical examination: Your overall health status is checked by the doctor by examining you physically. The doctor will also ask you about your medical history and family history.
2. Imaging tests: Tests like CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, ultrasounds may be used to create images of your internal organs, including the pancreas.
3. Endoscopic ultrasound: An ultrasound device is used to create images of the pancreas from inside the abdomen. The device is passed through a flexible and thin tube known as an endoscope down the food pipe (esophagus) and into the stomach to obtain the images.
4. Biopsy: The doctor removes a small sample of the suspected tissue growth and sends it to the laboratory to check for the presence of cancer cells. The procedure can be done by passing special tools through the endoscope, or by fine-needle aspiration (insertion of a needle through the skin and into the pancreas).
5. Blood tests: The blood is tested to check for the presence of elevated levels of specific tumor markers like CA 19-9 that are shed by the pancreatic cancer cells.

The treatment of pancreatic cancer depends on the location and stage of cancer, and the overall health status of the patient. The various treatment options include:
1. Surgery:
The cancerous part of the pancreas is removed surgically. The lymph nodes near the pancreas may also be removed.  The procedure of removing the pancreas or a part of the pancreas is known as pancreatectomy.
If the tumor is located in the head of the pancreas, which is the widest part of the pancreas near the small intestine, the doctor may recommend a Whipple procedure. The Whipple procedure involves the surgical removal of the head of the pancreas, the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), the gallbladder (a small pouch present just under the liver), a part of the bile duct (small tubes which carry bile, which is a fluid made and released by the liver, outside the liver), and the nearby lymph nodes.

2. Radiation therapy: 
High-powered energy beams like x-rays and protons are used in this procedure to kill cancer cells.

3. Chemotherapy:
Certain drugs are used in chemotherapy for killing cancer cells.

4. Immunotherapy:
Certain drugs boost the body’s immune or disease-fighting system to kill the cancer cells. This therapy is not very effective against pancreatic cancer.

5. Targeted therapy:
Some drugs are directed at certain proteins or genes that help in the growth of cancer. These drugs kill the cancer cells by attacking specific characteristics of the cancer cells.

The side effects of the various pancreatic cancer treatments include:
1. Surgery:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Pain
• Difficulty in the digestion of food
• Diabetes

2. Radiation therapy:

• Skin reactions
• Fatigue
• Upset stomach
• Nausea
• Loose bowel movements

3. Drug treatments (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted drug therapy):

• Poor appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Rashes
• Stomach-related problems
• Mouth ulcers or sores
• Lack of energy
• Hair loss
• Higher risk of infections
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Anemia
• Nerve damage

1. Avoid consumption of alcohol and smoking while you are under medications.
2. Avoid lifting heavy objects after surgery.
3. Avoid strenuous physical activities after surgery.
4. Change your bandages regularly as instructed by the doctor to prevent infections.
5. Follow a healthy diet after treatment to prevent developing diabetes and keep the blood sugar levels under control.
6. Follow-up appointments with your doctor are a must after the treatment.