What are the treatments for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of the digestive tract, mostly occurring in the head of the pancreas. The early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not very obvious, and the pancreas itself is not rich in nerves. Early tumors do not cause pain and lack typical symptoms. So what are the treatments for pancreatic cancer patients? Let's take a look together!

1. Surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer

Surgery is the only possible cure. Surgical methods include pancreaticoduodenectomy, extended pancreaticoduodenectomy, pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, and total pancreatectomy. However, due to the difficulty in early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, the surgical resection rate is low, and the five-year survival rate after surgery is also low. For pancreatic cancer with obstructive jaundice that cannot be removed, cholecystocystostomy or bile duct jejunostomy can be selected to reduce jaundice and improve the patient's quality of life. Stents can also be placed under endoscopy to relieve obstruction.

2. Palliative treatment of pancreatic cancer

(1) Indications for palliative surgery: Palliative treatment is important for pancreatic cancer. Because about 88% of patients cannot undergo radical surgery due to local spread and metastasis of the tumor, when the primary tumor cannot be removed, the surgeon must decide what palliative measures to take to relieve the obstruction of the bile duct or duodenum. In addition, internal and external medicine cooperation is required to deal with jaundice, pain, weight loss, pancreatic insufficiency, and even depression and exhaustion. In addition, if the internal medicine bile duct stent or drainage fails, or if the stent is placed and the patient re-obstructs or even develops cholangitis, surgical treatment is also required. When choosing palliative jaundice reduction surgery, not only should a judgment be made before the operation, but the abdominal cavity should also be explored in detail after laparotomy. The method and sequence of exploration are the same as those of pancreaticoduodenectomy. Usually, if the tumor invades the root of the mesentery or the portal vein, it is considered unsuitable for radical resection and palliative surgery is performed. If necessary, fine needle aspiration cytology or biopsy is required to confirm the situation before it can be implemented.

(2) Palliative surgical methods: For cases that are not suitable for radical surgery, it is often necessary to relieve obstructive jaundice. Generally, cholecystojejunostomy is used. If conditions are unavailable, external fistula (cholecystostomy or external bile duct drainage) can be performed to reduce jaundice. Most patients can relieve symptoms and improve their overall condition in a short period of time. The average survival time is about half a year.

3. Comprehensive treatment of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer has a high degree of malignancy, a low surgical resection rate, and a poor prognosis. Although surgery is still the primary treatment method, pancreatic cancer is often discovered late and loses the chance of radical cure, so comprehensive treatment is needed for pancreatic cancer. So far, like most tumors, there is no efficient and fully applicable comprehensive treatment plan. The current comprehensive treatment is still based on surgical treatment, supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and new methods of combining immune and molecular biological treatments are being explored.

The above is an introduction to the treatment of pancreatic cancer. I hope it will be helpful to you. If you have any other needs, you can also consult our online consulting experts at Feihua Health Network. We are always here to answer your questions. Feihua Health Network is always by your side and cares about your health issues! Feihua Health Network wishes you good health!