FACT:
Research indicates that even though about 20% of pancreatic cancer patients might qualify for surgery, nearly half of those are not told they are eligible.
Every patient should be referred to a Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) surgeon, to discuss options.
Key Points for Surgery:
- Surgery remains the only curative treatment and can offer long-term control of the cancer.
- Surgery is an option when the cancer is localized and in its early stages.
- Neoadjuvant treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiation) is now recommended prior to surgery to reduce the size of the tumor so that it is more easily removed during surgery.
- Adjuvant therapy, is recommended after surgical removal of the tumour, to kill microscopic cancer cells that may still be present, reducing the risk of a reocrecurrence.
- High-Volume Hospitals: Referrals should be made to hospitals with specialized surgeons and higher success rates.
- Specialized Surgeons: HPB surgeons should perform multiple pancreatic cancer surgeries annually to ensure optimal outcomes.
- Surgery options, depend on the tumour location.
- Whipple Procedure (Pancreaticoduodenectomy) This is the most common surgery for tumours in the head of the pancreas. The surgeon removes the head of the pancreas along with nearby organs and lymph nodes to safely take out the tumour.
- Distal Pancreatectomy This surgery is used when the tumour is in the body or tail of the pancreas. The surgeon removes these parts of the pancreas, and often the spleen as well.
- Total Pancreatectomy A total pancreatectomy is done when the tumour’s location or number of tumours requires the entire pancreas to be removed. After this surgery, the person becomes diabetic and will need insulin for life.
FACT: Patients have the right to palliative surgeries that ease symptoms when a tumour cannot be fully removed. These procedures help reduce jaundice, pain, nausea, and vomiting caused by blocked ducts or the duodenum.
Common palliative procedures include:
- Biliary bypass: Reroutes bile around the tumour to relieve blockage and jaundice.
- Gastric bypass: Allows food to pass the tumour if it is blocking the duodenum.
- Stent placement: A small tube is inserted to keep the bile duct, pancreatic duct, or duodenum open and relieve blockages.
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