Pancreatic cancer occurs when cancerous cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland located in front of the spine and behind the stomach. It is responsible for producing hormones and digestive juices that regulate blood sugar levels in the body. This is a rare disease but can be treated. There are numerous treatments for pancreatic cancer that are administered based on the stage and type of cancer.
1. Treatments for pancreatic cancer
The treatments for pancreatic cancer vary based on the stage of the condition. Treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are a few common treatment options.
2. Stages of pancreatic cancer:
- Stage 0: No spread
- Stage 1: Local growth
- Stage 2: Local spread
- Stage 3: Wider spread
- Stage 4: Confirmed spread
Once the stage is confirmed using tests such as a CT scan or an ultrasound, the treatments for pancreatic cancer are determined. If the cancer cells appear to be removable, it is termed as resectable and surgery is performed. However, if it is locally advanced or unresectable, it means the cancer has spread to the major blood vessels and it might be risky to remove it through surgery. Finally, if it has spread to the major organs, it is known as metastatic and surgery is not an option.
3. Radiotherapy as treatments for pancreatic cancer
This is a common procedure when cancer cannot be removed. It is a procedure that is normally image-guided radiotherapy. The process involves taking images before the treatment to ensure it is delivered accurately.
Types of radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer include:
- 3D conformal radiotherapy
This is a type of radiotherapy where radiation is given in the form of 3D shapes to the cancer. This procedure aims to give a higher dosage of radiation to the cancer cells while ensuring a normal dosage to the surrounding healthy cells. - Intensity-modulated radiotherapy
This treatment for pancreatic cancer is also known as IMRT. In this treatment, the radiation beam is brought close to the cancer. It uses a minimum of five beams of radiation which are given at different angles. These beams are arranged in such a way that the tumor receives the maximum amount of radiation and the neighboring cells are completely avoided. - Volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy or rapid arc
This is a type of IMRT that focuses on cancer and the time taken for the treatment is reduced. It uses a single beam of radiation or more, depending on the need. The machine moves around the person in a circle. This type of radiotherapy reduces the amount of radiation to the surrounding organs.
The type of radiotherapy and other treatments for pancreatic cancer are decided by the doctor and experts based on the type and stage of cancer.