Pancreatic cancer treatments
Many years of treating people with cancer and testing different treatments in clinical trials has helped doctors know what is likely to work for a particular type and stage of cancer. Your doctors will advise you about the best treatment for the stage, grade and type of pancreatic cancer you have. Their suggestions will consider your overall health, how far the cancer may have spread and what you want.
As the treatment plan is so individual, you may meet other people with pancreatic cancer with a similar story, who are receiving different treatment to you. Feel free to talk to your treatment team about why your treatments have been recommended for you.
Treatment for pancreatic cancer may include one or a combination of the following:
It is important to discuss treatment options with your doctor and ask about the treatments that are selected in cancer centres that treat high volumes of people each year. Your GP may be able to help you frame your questions to your specialist or find out this information on your behalf.
- Don’t be afraid to speak openly and honestly or ask questions of your doctors and other health professionals.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about all your symptoms, even if you think they aren’t important, including any changes in your emotional wellbeing.
- Let your doctor know how much or how little information you want. This may change at different times in your illness, but it is important your doctor is aware.
- Write down your concerns and take them along to your appointment so you don’t forget anything. Take notes during your appointment.
- It is normal to forget information, particularly if there has been an unexpected change, so ask your team to explain it again. Ask about options to follow up with further questions once you have had time to digest the information.
- If you feel your concerns and needs are not being addressed or listened to, you may consider seeking a second opinion.
- Repeat back to your doctor what you believe you heard them say to make sure you have interpreted them correctly.
- If your doctor talks and you are struggling to understand what they are saying, ask them to slow down.
- Take someone you trust with you to your appointments – two sets of ears will allow you to later discuss what you heard together and ensure it is correct.
- Ask your doctors and health professionals where you can find the most reliable and up-to-date information about your cancer and its treatment.
- Avoid asking ‘Dr Google’, as a lot of medical/cancer information on the internet has not been reviewed by experts. Some of it is wrong and can be dangerous to follow and may not relate to you and your unique situation.
- Ask your doctor for copies of your test results or to write down/provide you with written information about your cancer and its treatment.
- If possible, have all your scans at the same imaging place to keep things simple and allow for easy access and comparison of your results.
- Make a list of all your medications, dosages, times to take them and the reason you’re taking them. Prior to your appointments, check if you have enough medications or if you need a new script from the doctor. Remember to review your symptoms and related medications regularly with your doctor.
- Keep a health calendar with all your good or bad days and the symptoms or emotions concerning you. It can be hard to remember all that happened yesterday, or in the past week or month. Take this with you to each appointment.
When you're at an appointment, we know you’ll have questions. It can be a good idea to write them down before you go. Here are some that might be helpful:
- What treatment do you recommend?
- Where will I have to go to have treatment?
- What will treatment cost and how much of the cost will I have to pay myself?
- Can I still work?
- How will the treatment affect my day-to-day life?
- Who are the people in my team and who is my main contact person?
- Who do I contact if I am feeling unwell or have any questions?
- How will treatment affect my day-to-day life?
- What side effects could I have from treatment?
- Will I have a lot of pain? What can be done about this?
- Will treatment affect my ability to have a child?
- Can I work, drive and do my normal activities while having treatment?
- What activities/exercise will help me during and after treatment?
Other questions you may have
Treatment should start within four weeks of your diagnosis, depending on how urgent your treatment is needed and the type of treatment.
Making treatment decisions and having conversations your treatment can be challenging.
Talk to your treatment team about the possible outcomes from treatment, and then discuss this with people that you trust to help you make a decision about the best course of action for you.
It is important you feel safe, supported and well-informed when making these decisions.
Queensland Health has developed a Care Companion tool to support people with life-limiting conditions to have honest conversations and make decisions about their treatment and care.
If your cancer is advanced, you may wonder whether having treatment is worth it.
Even if the cancer can’t be cured, treatment may still help control it and relieve difficult symptoms and side effects such as pain and fluid build-up in the abdomen.
You always have the right to refuse any treatment you are offered. But before you refuse, it is important you understand the treatments on offer, their possible benefits and the possible outcomes without treatment. In some states, if you choose to refuse treatment, your doctor may ask you to fill out a ‘refusal of treatment certificate’.
After you finish your treatment, you will most likely have regular check-ups with your pancreatic cancer specialist. Your doctor will decide how often you need check-up appointments – everyone is different, but it is usually every six to 12 weeks. If you stay well, your check-ups become less frequent but because pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed in the advanced stages, you will probably be seen regularly. This will vary slightly between specialists, but it is normally:
● every three months following surgery for the first 12‒18 months
● then every six months until around three years after your surgery
● then every year.
You will usually have a CT scan and blood tests before each of your follow-up appointments. If your cancer has spread to other parts of your body (metastasised) your follow-up appointments are likely to be monthly.
Many people find the few days before going to a check-up appointment stressful. You may start to worry that your cancer has become worse or has returned. It is very normal to feel this way and it can be helpful to try to find ways to cope with your anxiety. The important thing is to make sure you attend all your follow-up appointments.
Always consult your doctor or health professional about any health-related matters. Pankind does not provide medical or personal advice and is intended for general informational purposes only. Read our full Terms of Use.
Thank you to the clinicians, researchers, patients, and carers who have helped us create and review our support resources, we could not have done it without you.