1. Surgery
Surgery offers the best chance for a cure, but it is only possible when the cancer is detected early and has not spread beyond the pancreas.
Common surgical procedures include:
- Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy): Removes the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, the gallbladder, and the bile duct.
- Distal pancreatectomy: Removes the body and tail of the pancreas, often along with the spleen.
- Total pancreatectomy: Removes the entire pancreas in selected cases.
2. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medications to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth. It may be used:
- Before surgery (to shrink the tumor).
- After surgery (to reduce the risk of recurrence).
- As the main treatment for advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.
3. Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to target and destroy cancer cells. It is sometimes combined with chemotherapy, particularly for locally advanced pancreatic cancer or to relieve symptoms caused by the tumor.
4. Targeted Therapy
Some pancreatic cancers have specific genetic mutations that can be treated with targeted medications. Genetic testing of the tumor may help determine whether these treatments are appropriate.
5. Immunotherapy
Although immunotherapy is not effective for most pancreatic cancers, it may benefit a small number of patients whose tumors have specific genetic characteristics, such as MSI-high or dMMR tumors.
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