Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Options

Treatment Options for Pancreatic Cancer and Disease at Methodist Dallas

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, there is hope and there are options for pancreatic cancer treatment at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

The Methodist Pancreatic Program takes a multidisciplinary approach to evaluating, diagnosing, and treating pancreatic cancer. The medical team comprises specialists from gastroenterology, oncology, pathology, radiology, and hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.

Conditions treated in the Pancreatic Program at Methodist Dallas include:

• Benign pancreatic tumors
• Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
• Chronic and acute pancreatitis management
• Mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN)
• Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN)

According to the American Cancer Society, after pancreatic cancer is found and the stage is determined, a pancreatic cancer patient’s care team will discuss treatment options. It is important that patients and their families take time to think about all pancreatic cancer treatment options, weigh the benefits of each treatment option against the possible risks and side effects.

From diagnosis and testing to pancreatic cancer treatment – whether surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination – to post-treatment counseling and support, including diet and lifestyle recommendations, the interdisciplinary pancreatic care team at Methodist works together with the patient and family to develop a treatment plan.

Surgical treatment options for pancreatic cancer

Surgical pancreatic cancer treatment options offered at Methodist Dallas include:

• Robotic Whipple surgery (pancreaticoduodenectomy) with the da Vinci® Surgical System
• Whipple surgery (pancreaticoduodenectomy)
• Distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy surgery
• Total pancreatectomy surgery

Nonsurgical treatment options for pancreatic cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, non-surgical pancreatic cancer treatment options can include:

• Ablative techniques – ways to destroy tumors, other than surgical removal
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy and other drugs

Learn more about pancreatic cancer treatment options from the American Cancer Society.

Benefits of surgery for pancreatic cancer patients

Studies show that pancreatic surgeries have better outcomes and fewer complications if done at a hospital that performs a high volume of these specialized procedures. Methodist Dallas is one of the nation’s highest volume, highest quality treatment locations, caring for more than 100 pancreatic cancer patients each year.

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the United States. Surgical resection is a potentially lifesaving option for patients whose cancer has not spread beyond the pancreas. However, studies have found only about a third of patients with locoregional pancreatic cancer undergo surgical resection. Many were never given the option. At Methodist Dallas, we are committed to bringing this critical choice to more families affected by this disease.

Contact the Pancreatic Cancer Program at Methodist Dallas

For more information about pancreatic cancer treatment options and pancreatic cancer resources at Methodist Dallas Medical Center,
call (214) 933-6601

Information contained on these pages has been gathered from independent sources and is for informational use only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice and information provided by your health care provider. Any decision you make regarding your health care options should be made after consulting a qualified physician.

Sources:
American Cancer Society
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Staywell Health Library