Treatment Options by Stage
A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.
Stages I and II Pancreatic Cancer
Understanding Pancreatic Cancer -- Diagnosis and Treatment
To diagnose pancreatic cancer, a doctor will order certain imaging tests, such as a pancreatic ultrasound or a CT scan of the abdomen. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) uses an ultrasound device connected to the end of a small flexible tube that is inserted into the mouth and is 85% to 90% accurate in diagnosing pancreatic cancer. If necessary, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is used. With ERCP, detailed images are obtained by inserting an endoscope into the mouth to the pancreas,...
Read the Understanding Pancreatic Cancer -- Diagnosis and Treatment article > >
Treatment of stage I and stage II pancreatic cancer may include the following:
- Surgery alone.
- Surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
- A clinical trial of surgery followed by radiation therapy with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is given before, during, and after the radiation therapy.
- A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemotherapy.
Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage I pancreatic cancer and stage II pancreatic cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.
Stage III Pancreatic Cancer
Treatment of stage III pancreatic cancer may include the following:
- Palliativesurgery or stent placement to bypass blocked areas in ducts or the small intestine.
- Chemotherapy with gemcitabine.
- A clinical trial of new anticancer therapies together with chemotherapy or chemoradiation.
- A clinical trial of radiation therapy given during surgery or internal radiation therapy.
Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage III pancreatic cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.
Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer
Treatment of stage IV pancreatic cancer may include the following:
- Chemotherapy with gemcitabine with or without erlotinib.
- Palliative treatments for pain, such as nerve blocks, and other supportive care.
- Palliative surgery or stent placement to bypass blocked areas in ducts or the small intestine.
- Clinical trials of new anticancer agents with or without chemotherapy.
Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.
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