CAMDEN CITY, NJ (Nov. 21, 2019)–Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of
cancer death in the United States and the second most common gastrointestinal cancer in the U.S.
There are two types of pancreas cancer:
pancreatic adenocarcinoma
, which makes up more than 95% of all pancreatic cancers, and the rarer
pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
. The symptoms and treatments for neuroendocrine tumors are different than those of pancreatic adenocarcinomas. For this article we will focus on pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
photo Jamin C Morrison, MD
“There are several reasons mortality rates related to pancreatic cancer are so high,” says
Jamin Morrison, MD
, medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.
“Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer and it generally spreads silently, without symptoms,” says Morrison. “About 80% of pancreatic cancers are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to other organs, which makes them hard to treat.”
“The pancreas is set deep inside the body, behind several other organs, making it difficult to feel or see without special equipment,” he explains.
“Also, there are no screening tests for pancreatic cancer for those at average risk,” Dr. Morrison continues. “Screening is generally limited to people at high risk, such as those with certain inherited
Your pancreas is about 6 inches long and lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach back toward the spine. The pancreas is an essential organ in the digestive process. It produces enzymes that aid in digestion and it makes insulin and other hormones that help the body manage sugar.
gene mutations.”
Advanced Treatment Options
Treatment for pancreatic cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, interventional radiology procedures, or a combination of these options. “Coordinated, multidisciplinary care like we have at MD Anderson at Cooper is crucial to good outcomes,” says Dr. Morrison.
“Today we are able to offer some exciting new chemotherapy regimens that are more effective in treating pancreatic cancer than ever before,” says Dr. Morrison. “There have been great advances in our understanding of how pancreatic cancers behave, and the more we know about the cancer the more effective treatment can be.
“We often treat patients with an aggressive chemotherapy regimen before surgery to shrink the tumor and make the surgery more effective,” he explains. “And we have a new clinical trial underway where we are delivering chemotherapy directly into the tumor.”
photo Francis R Spitz, MD, FACS
When pancreatic cancer is confined to the pancreas, and sometimes when it has spread only to nearby lymph nodes, the tumor can be removed with surgery. “Complete removal of the tumor with surgery is often the best chance at curing pancreatic cancer,” says
Frank Spitz, MD, FACS
, Director of the Pancreatic Cancer Program and Deputy Director of MD Anderson at Cooper.
“Research shows that patients who have their surgery at high volume centers like MD Anderson at Cooper have fewer complications and lower mortality,” says Dr. Spitz. “Our team performs the most pancreatic cancer surgeries in South Jersey. The experience of our surgeons and team makes a difference.”
The most common technique used to remove a pancreatic tumor is known as the
Whipple procedure
. This complex operation is performed when the cancer is located in the pancreatic head. The surgery involves removal of parts of the pancreas, intestine, nearby lymph nodes, gallbladder, bile duct, and sometimes parts of the stomach. Often, we can offer minimally invasive surgery for tumors located in the body and tail of the pancreas – which means smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, less pain, and a faster return to normal activities.
Advanced radiation therapy technologies are also being used to treat pancreatic cancer at MD Anderson at Cooper.
David J Mulvihill, MD
“Patients with pancreatic cancer can receive radiation treatments before or after surgery; either to shrink the tumor pre-operatively or destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery. Radiation therapy can also be used to destroy the tumor if surgery is not an option or to ease symptoms,” says
David Mulvihill, MD
, radiation oncologist at MD Anderson at Cooper.
In spring 2020, MD Anderson at Cooper will be one of the first centers in the U.S. to offer a ground-breaking new radiation treatment to patients with pancreatic and other cancers – the MR Linac.
“We’re very excited about this technology,” says Mulvihill. “It allows for greater precision during treatment, especially with tumors that move during breathing and/or the body’s natural internal movements.”
“Pancreatic cancer continues to be a challenge for cancer experts, but the team at MD Anderson at Cooper is committed to improving the odds for patients and is leading the way in pancreatic cancer care in South Jersey,” says Dr. Spitz.
For more information about the
Pancreatic Cancer Program at MD Anderson at Cooper
or if you’d like to make an appointment with one of our specialists call 855.MDA.COOPER (855.632.2667).