What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer happens when abnormal, malignant cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is often difficult to diagnose early, which makes it one of the more challenging cancers to treat.

In 2020, there were around 495,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer worldwide. Common symptoms may include jaundice, upper or middle abdominal pain, back pain, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. While hearing a diagnosis can feel overwhelming, advances in diagnostics and treatment have helped improve outcomes for many patients.

What factors influence pancreatic cancer treatment?

When planning treatment, doctors consider several factors, including:
— Where the cancer is located in the pancreas (head, body, or tail)
— The stage of the disease
— Overall health and medical history of the patient
These factors help determine which treatment options will work best.

How is pancreatic cancer staged?

Staging is an important first step after diagnosis. It helps doctors understand how advanced the cancer is and whether surgery is possible.
Staging usually involves:
— CT scans
— MRI scans
— PET scans
After staging, the specialist can confirm if the cancer is resectable (can be removed with surgery) or unresectable (locally advanced or metastatic).

What are the surgical options for pancreatic cancer?

Surgery is currently the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. A pancreatic surgeon will carefully evaluate your condition to see if surgery can remove the tumor completely.

Types of surgery include:
— Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy): For tumors in the head of the pancreas. This involves removing part of the pancreas along with the gallbladder, bile duct, duodenum, and sometimes part of the stomach. Only about 20 to 25 percent of patients are eligible for this surgery.
— Distal pancreatectomy: Removes the tail and body of the pancreas. In some cases, the spleen may also be removed.
— Total pancreatectomy: Removes the entire pancreas, usually for patients with multiple tumors.
— Palliative surgery: When cure is not possible, surgeries such as a gastric bypass, biliary bypass, or placement of an endoscopic stent may help ease symptoms and improve quality of life.

How does chemotherapy help with pancreatic cancer?

Chemotherapy is often part of pancreatic cancer treatment. It may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor, after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells, or as the main treatment if surgery is not an option.
The goal of chemotherapy is to stop cancer cells from growing and spreading. Different drug combinations are chosen depending on each patient’s needs.

What role does radiation therapy play in treatment?

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells or stop their growth. A machine directs the radiation to the specific part of the body where the cancer is located.
Sometimes radiation is given alongside chemotherapy, which can make treatment more effective.

Can immunotherapy be used for pancreatic cancer?

Immunotherapy works by stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells. It is sometimes used together with chemotherapy or when chemotherapy alone has not been effective.
Although not suitable for all patients, immunotherapy has shown promise in certain cases of pancreatic cancer.

Why is follow-up care important after pancreatic cancer treatment?

Follow-up care is essential after treatment. Patients should see their doctor regularly to check for signs of recurrence or side effects from treatment.

Follow-up visits help with:
— Monitoring for cancer returning
— Managing long-term side effects
— Identifying late side effects that may develop months or years later
Keeping up with scheduled visits and sharing any new symptoms with your care team is an important part of long-term recovery.

Who are the pancreatic cancer experts King’s College Hospital Dubai?

At King’s College Hospital London in Dubai, pancreatic cancer care is provided by a world-class team of specialists:
— Dr. Rakesh Rai – Consultant Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgeon, Dubai Hills Hospital
— Dr. Syed Monawer Karim – Consultant Oncologist, Dubai Hills Hospital

Our team creates personalized treatment plans based on each patient’s needs, with the goal of achieving the best possible outcome while supporting quality of life.

For further details or to book an appointment, please contact the King’s Cancer Centre Dubai.