Cancer of the pancreas is an abnormal growth of cells in the pancreas. The pancreas is behind the stomach. It makes juices to help break down food in the small intestine and also makes hormones, such as insulin. These hormones help the body use and store the energy it gets from food.

If you are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you are in excellent hands at the MPLC. Our work is part of the University of Minnesota Cancer Center which is one of only 39 comprehensive cancer centers in the U. S. designated by the National Cancer Institute.

What’s more, our Pancreas Cancer Program stands at the forefront of medical research for pancreas cancer. Newly appointed surgery chairman Dr. Selwyn Vickers came to Minnesota from the University of Alabama, where he was one of the principal investigators for a $4.5 million Pancreatic Cancer Specialized Program in Research (SPORE). This grant, along with the Pancreatic Cancer Care Registry, is now established at the University of Minnesota.

Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment


Symptoms
Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is not commonly detected early because the symptoms appear late in the course of the disease. Some of these symptoms include:

• Pain in the abdomen

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss for no apparent reason

• Digestive problems

• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

• Newly diagnosed diabetes

Not all of these may be present, but any of them will be investigated by your physician who may then schedule you for blood tests and other examinations.

Diagnosing pancreatic cancer
This cancer can be difficult to diagnose. That’s why it is important for you to choose a facility with extensive experience in dealing with pancreatic cancer – such as the Minnesota Pancreas and Liver Center. Here we have developed diagnostic and treatment procedures that are now used around the world.

Because pancreatic cancer can spread, it is important that it be diagnosed as early as possible so that treatment (surgery and/or medical therapy) can begin. That is why we schedule tests and clinic appointments as quickly as possible.

Your diagnostic tests may include:

• Blood tests

• CT scan of the abdomen
  X-rays are taken from a series of different angles and arranged by a computer to show a cross-sectional view of organs in the body.

• Endoscopic ultrasound or EUS
  A thin, flexible, lighted tube (endoscope) is put through the mouth into the stomach. It bounces high-energy sound waves off the organs to create a picture of the organs and helps find the area of cancer. It looks at your organs from the inside out.  You will receive light sedation for this test.

• A needle biopsy can be obtained during the EUS.

• Laparoscopy
  A flexible, lighted tube is put into the belly through a small cut to look inside the belly. A sample of tissue may be removed (a biopsy) for tests.

• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP
  This is done using both x-rays and a flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope to see inside the pancreas, liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. A sample of tissue may be removed for tests.  You will receive anesthesia for this test.

Treating pancreatic cancer
Our Pancreas Cancer Program stands at the forefront of medical research for pancreas cancer. Newly appointed surgery chairman Dr. Selwyn Vickers came to Minnesota from the University of Alabama, where he was one of the principal investigators for a $4.5 million Pancreatic Cancer Specialized Program in Research (SPORE). This grant, along with the Pancreatic Cancer Care Registry, is now established at the University of Minnesota.

Treating pancreatic cancer depends on how advanced it is, how much it may have spread and your general health. If surgery is your best option, it’s good to know that every surgeon at the Minnesota Pancreas and Liver Center is a specially trained cancer surgeon.

• Surgery
  For tumors located only in the pancreas, surgical removal is the only therapy that could potentially cure the disease. The entire pancreas may be removed or just the affected parts. For tumors that  occur in the head of the pancreas, a procedure called the Whipple procedure or pancreatoduodenectomy is performed.

• Radiation
  Radiation may be used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may also be used together with surgery and/or chemotherapy.

• Chemotherapy
  Cancer-fighting drugs may be used to destroy the cancer cells’ ability to grow and reproduce. Today’s new drugs are more effective and may increase the quality of life.

• Additional medications
  Other drugs may be prescribed to reduce your pain or alleviate your symptoms.