Pancreatic cancer treatment by stage

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

Pancreatic cancer treatment can vary depending on the stage of cancer.

Treatment of stage I and stage II pancreatic cancer may include the following:

• Surgery alone.
• Surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Treatment of stage III pancreatic cancer may include the following:

• Palliative surgery or stent placement to bypass blocked areas in ducts or the small intestine.
• Chemotherapy with gemcitabine.

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.

Treatment of recurrent pancreatic cancer may include the following:

• Chemotherapy.
• Palliative surgery or stent placement to bypass blocked areas in ducts or the small intestine.
• Palliative radiation therapy.
• Other palliative medical care to reduce symptoms, such as nerve blocks to relieve pain.

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