Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

The following symptoms of pancreatic cancer tend to appear after the disease has advanced. They are common symptoms for various conditions, so your doctor may check for various ailments, including pancreatic cancer. These symptoms include:

As with many cancers, pancreatic cancer may be detected through various imaging tests, including ultrasounds, computerized tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imagining (MRI). A physician may complete a biopsy as well, which involves the removal of a tissue sample that is then examined for the presence of cancer.

It is incredibly difficult to treat pancreatic cancer with an effective dose of radiation without compromising nearby critical tissues and organs, including the kidneys, stomach and spinal cord. A combination of treatment methods is often used, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The use of traditional radiation therapy can be challenging, because of the pancreas’ proximity to other organs.
Proton therapy provides an opportunity for treatment that is less likely to compromise these surrounding tissues and organs. Radiation oncologists are able to use the unique physical properties of protons to precisely treat the target area while limiting or eliminating the healthy tissue exposed to unnecessary radiation.
The chances of destroying the cancer cells increases while the transfer of radiation to surrounding tissue decreases.