Treatment of local pancreatic cancer

Localized pancreatic cancer is a cancer limited to the pancreas that has not metastasized as far as can be seen in the scans. The primary treatment for curing the cancer is surgery.

Surgical treatment of localized pancreatic cancer

The primary treatment for curing pancreatic cancer is a surgery called pancreatoduodenectomy, or Whipple’s procedure, where, in addition to the head of the pancreas, we remove the duodenum, extrahepatic bile ducts, the lower part of the stomach, part of the abdominal wall, and nearby lymph nodes. This surgery is one of the most challenging surgeries requiring special expertise. The procedure involves risks, but for patients carefully selected by our specialized team, it is the preferred form of treatment.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for local pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer often grows attached to or surrounds vital structures in the upper abdominal area, such as large blood vessels. In this case, the tumor is not directly operable. We aim to reduce the size of the tumor with chemotherapy so that it would be detached from vital blood vessels and its complete removal in surgery would be possible. We will re-examine the situation in approximately three months after the start of chemotherapy. If necessary, we can also enhance chemotherapy with radiation therapy.

After successful surgery, we will continue chemotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.

If this surgery is not possible, we may consider chemotherapy-enhanced radiation therapy. We plan and implement radiation therapy with special care, as there are many organs around the pancreas that are easily harmed by radiation therapy.

Follow-up of local pancreatic cancer after radiation therapy or surgery

After radiation therapy or curative surgery, your follow-up will continue closely with imaging examinations and blood tests.