Pancreatic Cancer

As part of the GI Center, our partnering pancreatic care team is a regional leader in providing advanced treatment to patients with pancreatic cancers. Each year, more than 300 complex pancreas and liver surgeries are performed at NCH. Patients experience shorter hospital stays as the center reports low complication rates.

Screenings

Screening for early pancreatic cancer detection is very difficult. The pancreas sits deep inside the body. It cannot be seen or felt to know if something is wrong.

For those with a high-risk of pancreatic cancer, there are tests that can be done to detect pancreatic cancer early, which include Endoscopic Ultrasound and MRI of the abdomen.

Prevention

There is not one particular way to prevent pancreatic cancer, but there are things that a person can do to help lower their risk of getting pancreatic cancer, including: Don’t smoke cigarettes, cigars or smokeless tobacco; avoid alcohol and maintain a healthy weight and physical activity

If you are having trouble with any of the above please talk to your health care provider.

Diagnosis

Many times there are no symptoms until the pancreatic cancer is in an advanced stage. That’s why it is important to see your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

Jaundice with or without itching, dark urine or light stool
Back pain, which might be worse after eating or when lying down
Fatigue or weakness
Other illnesses such as diabetes
Digestive problems, including unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, malnutrition, nausea and/or vomiting or abdominal pain
Pancreatitis

NCH also has a Pancreatic Cyst Clinic, where we review your imaging, discuss the best approach, and recommend further testing as indicated.

There are many tests used to detect a tumor or mass. These include:

Blood tests
Biopsy
Ultrasonography
Computed tomography (CT) scan
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS)
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
Endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration (EUS/FNA)
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Treatment Options

Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have treatment options, which may include the following:

Whipple procedure (removal of the cancerous head of the pancreas and potentially other nearby tissues or organs, such as a bile duct, gallbladder or lymph nodes)
Distal pancreatectomy (removal of the cancerous tail of the pancreas and, in some cases, the body of the pancreas and the spleen)
Total pancreatectomy (removal of the entire pancreas and the gallbladder and spleen, in addition to a portion of the stomach and small intestine)
Robotic pancreatic surgery
NanoKnife^®
Chemotherapy
CyberKnife^® radiation therapy
Clinical trials
Pain management

Upon diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, our multidisciplinary team will work with you to create a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan. This includes, but isn’t limited to:

Collaborative review that occurs at our monthly multidisciplinary Pancreatic Tumor Board, which includes experts in radiology; pathology: surgical, medical and radiation oncology; a genetic counselor and a nurse navigator who develop a preliminary plan best suited to your needs.
A personal nurse navigator who will be with you every step of the way to assist with whatever you might need—including emotional support and help navigating financial assistance—to make the process as patient-friendly as possible.
Advanced treatment in state-of-the-art facilities.

Resources

If you do not currently have a primary care physician, call Health Connection at 847-618-4968 or visit nch.org/findadoctor.

A Pancreatic Patient Navigator is available as a resource to be with you every step of the way to assist with whatever you might need, including emotional support, assist with coordination of appointments, answer questions and provide assistance with other resources as needed—to make the process as patient-friendly as possible. The navigator is a phone call away to assist in addressing your questions and concerns, at 847-618-7192.