Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Options
Various treatments are used to treat cancer of the pancreas, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy alone, and chemotherapy with a targeted treatment. Depending on the stage of the cancer, your doctor may combine some of these treatments. Some of these options are explained in this section.
| Treatment | How does it work? | When may this treatment be used? |
| Surgery | Surgery to remove the tumor offers the best chance for long-term control of all types of advanced pancreatic cancer. In general, a tumor can be removed with surgery if it has not spread (metastasized) beyond the pancreas and does not involve major blood vessels. About 15% or about 1 out of 7 of advanced pancreatic cancers can be surgically removed at the time of diagnosis. This can be done if the tumor is small and has not spread to other areas of your body. |
You should be in good overall health to have surgery. Surgery can be the first step in your treatment plan. It may be performed in patients with Stage I-III. |
| Radiation | Uses X-ray beams to shrink the tumor. Radiation may destroy cancer cells remaining after surgery. Radiation may be given alone or with chemotherapy or other treatments. The chemotherapy drugs most commonly used with radiation therapy are fluorouracil (5-FU) and gemcitabine. |
This may be done before surgery to make it easier to remove the tumor. Radiation can also be done after surgery. This treatment may be used in Stage II-III. However, it can also be used to shrink tumors in advanced pancreatic cancer (Stage IV) to ease pain. Your overall health may not be good enough for you to have surgery. Or, the cancer may have spread to other areas in your body. If so, radiation treatment may be used instead of surgery. |
| Chemotherapy | Drugs used to destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells. |
Chemotherapy may be used with radiation to help shrink the tumor before surgery. It may be used after surgery or radiation to destroy any cancer cells that may have been left behind. |
| Targeted Therapy | Designed to affect only certain cancer cell activities. Helps slow the tumor growth and destroy cancer cells. |
Targeted therapies may be used in first-line treatment, in conjunction with chemotherapy. |
To learn more, please visit our Pancreatic Cancer Resource Center to find links to organizations that provide information and support to cancer patients and their caregivers.
Tarceva in combination with gemcitabine is prescribed for patients with advanced-stage pancreatic cancer whose cancer has spread, grown, or cannot be surgically removed, and who have not received previous chemotherapy.
There have been reports of serious events involving the lungs in a small number of patients taking Tarceva. These events have included death in some patients. The medical name for these types of events is interstitial (in-tur-STISH-ul) lung disease-like events (or ILD-like events).
Liver and/or kidney problems (including deaths) have been reported in some patient taking Tarceva. Let your healthcare provider (HCP) know if you have a history of liver or kidney disease.
Some patients taking Tarceva have developed a hole in the lining of their stomach or intestines (including deaths). It may happen more in patients who are taking certain other medicines or who have certain stomach and intestinal diseases.
Some patients taking Tarceva have developed serious skin conditions. Some patients have died from these conditions.
Patients taking Tarceva plus gemcitabine were more likely to experience bleeding and clotting problems such as heart attack or stroke.
Some patients taking Tarceva have developed eye irritation and damage to the cornea. The cornea is the clear part of the eyeball that covers the colored part of the eye and the pupil. Other eye problems such as abnormal eyelash growth, dry eyes, or changes in eyesight have also been reported.
Patients should tell their HCP about eye problems that get worse. Including eye pain.
Women should not become pregnant while on treatment with Tarceva. If you are already pregnant or become pregnant while taking Tarceva, you should talk with your HCP about the benefits and risks of continuing to take Tarceva.
DO NOT breast-feed while receiving treatment with Tarceva.
Call your HCP right away if you have these signs or symptoms:
- New or worsening skin rash
- Serious or ongoing diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, or vomiting
- New or worsening shortness of breath or cough
- Eye irritation
Some patients taking Tarceva have experienced difficulty with blood clotting, and bleeding events, including gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients taking blood thinners (Coumadin®, warfarin or other coumarin-derivatives) should be monitored regularly.
Certain medicines and herbal supplements can affect how Tarceva works for in the body. It is important that you tell your HCP about all of the medicines and herbal supplements you are taking. DO NOT start taking any new medicines or herbal supplements before talking with your HCP. Tarceva may also affect other medications you are taking.
In addition, grapefruit and grapefruit juice have an effect on how Tarceva works. DO NOT eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while on treatment with Tarceva, except under the care of your HCP.
Smoking may affect how well Tarceva works for you. If you smoke, you should stop smoking before starting treatment with Tarceva. Talk with your HCP about how to quit smoking. If you continue to smoke, you should talk with your HCP before taking Tarceva.
The most common side effects in patients who took Tarceva plus gemcitabine were fatigue “feeling tired”, rash, nausea, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Other skin changes may also be seen.
The rash from Tarceva plus gemcitabine therapy may appear on your upper body or face. Typically rash occurs within 10 days of starting treatment, but it may occur any time during treatment.
The rash is not an allergic reaction. It may look like acne or dry skin. It is not acne. Talk to your HCP if a rash occurs.
Typically, diarrhea may develop within 15 days of starting Tarceva plus gemcitabine therapy.
Hair and nail changes have been seen with Tarceva.
Always let your HCP know if you have any side effects, and ask about the best way to handle them.
Tarceva is not right for everyone. Ask your HCP if once-daily Tarceva is right for you.
