Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer in the U.S. It can be scary to receive a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, but you should know that research is happening every day, including right here at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, to improve diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it’s important to be treated at a facility that can offer the latest treatments along with clinical trials. At Hollings, the only NCI-designated cancer center in South Carolina, our multidisciplinary team includes medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurse navigators, advanced practice providers, a cancer dietitian, psychologists, a clinical trials team and more who are focused on ensuring you receive the best possible care.

We also offer a next-day access program for people with newly diagnosed, non-metastatic pancreatic cancer so that you can begin discussing a treatment plan with a surgeon right away.

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What is pancreatic cancer? | Symptoms | Treatment | Clinical Trials | Care Locations | Risk Factors | Statistics | Common Questions | Latest News

What is pancreatic cancer?

The pancreas is a gland in your upper abdomen that is surrounded by digestive system organs. It has two main functions — producing enzymes to help you to digest food and producing hormones to control your blood sugar levels. The digestion role is part of the exocrine system, and the blood sugar role is part of the endocrine system.

Either of these types of cells can develop cancer, but the vast majority — about 95% — of pancreatic cancers are exocrine tumors. Also referred to as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, these are tumors that grow out of the cells lining the ducts that carry those digestive enzymes to the small intestine.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect at an early stage. It is deep in the abdomen, surrounded by organs, and early-stage pancreatic cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms. As a result, pancreatic cancer is currently the third-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.

Have more questions about pancreatic cancer? Check out our answers to common questions.

Pancreatic cancer symptoms

Pancreatic cancer may not cause symptoms or may cause nonspecific, vague symptoms in early stages. Some symptoms that you may notice:

• Unintended weight loss alongside a new diagnosis of diabetes or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). 
• Lack of energy. 
• Lack of appetite.
• Jaundice. This is when the whites of your eyes turn yellow and your skin takes on a yellowish hue. Jaundice is a symptom of a number of liver problems as well as gallbladder cancer, bile duct cancer and pancreatic cancer, so it’s important to see a doctor to figure out the cause of the jaundice. Besides yellowing of the whites of the eyes, the skin, the underside of the tongue and the gum line, other symptoms of jaundice include:
  • Itchy skin
  • Dark urine
  • Bowel movements that are pale or clay-colored.
• Pain: New back pain in a single spot that does not radiate (spread out).

Pancreatic cancer treatment

Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the size of the tumor, how much it has spread, and the genetic makeup of the tumor.

When possible, surgery to remove the cancer is the preferred option.

The most common surgery is the Whipple procedure. This removes the head of the pancreas, the gallbladder, the duodenum (the first part of the small intestines), affected lymph nodes and parts of the stomach and bile duct.

This is a complex procedure, and it’s important to be treated by an experienced surgeon who regularly performs this operation. At Hollings, our skilled team performs multiple Whipple procedures each month. In addition, our teams will use minimally invasive methods, like robotic surgery or laparoscopic surgery, whenever possible. Minimally invasive surgeries require smaller incisions (cuts), which usually means a faster recovery time and less pain.

Other treatments for pancreatic cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy.

Targeted therapies are designed to target specific genetic mutations that can cause cancer. So far, the targeted therapies that have been developed for pancreatic cancer can help only a small percentage of pancreatic cancer patients. Still, it is important to get genetic testing of your tumor to see if you might benefit from one of these drugs.

Hollings performs genetic testing in every pancreatic cancer case so that all treatment options can be explored.

Refer a pancreatic cancer patient

To refer a pancreatic cancer patient to Hollings, please call nurse coordinator Kelsey Cook at 843-985-7262.

Nurse navigator support

Our nurse navigators are an integral part of cancer care. They can help you to navigate through the health system, organize your appointments, and access additional resources. Our gastrointestinal cancer nurse navigator Anthony DeMeo, MSN, RN, will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have.

Clinical trials for pancreatic cancer

Clinical trials are how we know which treatments work; results from clinical trials determine what becomes the standard of care across cancer centers. As a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, Hollings takes an active part in clinical trials to continue advancing knowledge of cancer care.

Why might you participate in a clinical trial?

First, there are different types of trials. Some test a new medication. Some might look at whether the order of treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation) makes a difference. Others look at ways to improve quality of life. Your doctor may suggest a clinical trial believing that you could benefit from it. Because therapies in clinical trials have the potential to become the standard of care in the future, you could possibly have earlier access to a new treatment. You will also be helping future cancer patients, who will benefit from the information created during the trial. In some clinical trials you will receive at least the standard of care, and possibly something extra, while in others you will receive a new drug that is being tested in your type of cancer. Your doctor and the research team will help to guide you.

Our clinical trials page includes more information about trials as well as some questions for you to ask if you are considering a trial. You can also review our current pancreatic cancer clinical trials and gastrointestinal cancer clinical trials.

Pancreatic cancer risk factors

Risk factors increase your risk of getting cancer — they do not mean that you will automatically get cancer and they do not mean that people without these risk factors won’t get cancer. Some risk factors are unchangeable, like getting older. But some lifestyle risk factors can be changed.

• Tobacco use. Cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco products all increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Alcohol. Alcohol usage, including beer, wine and liquor, can lead to chronic pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, which has been linked to cancer.  
• Obesity.
• New diagnosis of diabetes. A recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, or diabetes that is getting harder to control, is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. It could also be a symptom, because pancreatic cancer can sometimes cause diabetes.
• Family history. There are some inherited conditions, called family cancer syndromes, that can cause an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Chronic pancreatitis. This is long-term inflammation of the pancreas. It can be caused by heavy drinking, smoking and certain genetic mutations.

Pancreatic cancer statistics

Some notable statistics about pancreatic cancer, according to the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute:

• More than 66,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. About 1,190 of those people will be in South Carolina.
• Although pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of new cancer cases, it accounts for about 8% of cancer deaths.
• The average age for diagnosis is between 65 and 74 years old.

Pancreatic cancer common questions

Have you or a loved one received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer? You probably have a lot of questions. There’s a lot of information to take in after a cancer diagnosis. Your doctor can answer questions specific to your care, but we have compiled a list of some of the most common questions for your reference below.

Latest pancreatic cancer news