Many people with pancreatic cancer require extensive treatment, medical tests, drug therapy, surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. The earlier treatment begins, the better the long-term prognosis.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer treatment options depend on the stage, size, and location of the tumor. Less than 20% of pancreatic cancers are detected before they metastasize (spread to other tissues), which is why long-term prognosis is very poor. If pancreatic cancer is diagnosed before it has metastasized, surgery and chemotherapy are usually first-line treatment options. However, after the cancer has spread, the goal of treatment is palliative care — improving quality of life for the patient by treating symptoms and complications.
What Are Treatment Options?
- Surgery: This is the best option for long-term survival, but it is only possible if the cancer has not already spread beyond the pancreas. Prognosis also varies depending on the size and location of the tumor.
- Whipple Operation: This is a surgical procedure that removes about 20% of the pancreas, the bottom half of the bile duct, and the small intestine. The full procedure may also remove part of the stomach.
- Radiation therapy: This treatment involves high-energy X-rays, which may slow the growth of cancerous tumors and kill cancerous cells.
- Chemotherapy: This treatment uses cancer drugs to kill cancer cells. It is often used in combination with radiation therapy.
- Drug treatments: (see below)
- Palliative care: Easing the symptoms and complications to make the patient as comfortable as possible.
Drug Treatments
Researchers are continually developing new drug treatments and therapies for pancreatic cancer. Currently, the standard pancreatic drug treatments include:
- Gemcitabine (Gemzar)
- Fluorouracil
- Capecitabine (Xeloda)
- And more
In January 2013, a recent clinical trial found that patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who were given the drug Apraxane plus gemcitabine survived for an average of 8.5 months — more then two months longer than patients who only took gemcitabine.
In addition, most people with pancreatic cancer will take painkilling medications. The tumor can inflame the pancreas, compress abdominal nerves, and cause chronic back pain. Pancreatic cancer may prevent the pancreas from secreting digestive enzymes or hormones that regulate blood-sugar levels (insulin and glucagon). Patients may need to take digestive enzyme supplements to prevent malnutrition.
Prognosis & Long-Term Outlook
For people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the long-term outlook and prognosis varies depending on many factors, including:
- Whether the cancer can be surgically removed (long-term prognosis is best if this is possible).
- The size and location of the tumor
- Whether the cancer has spread to other tissues or organs (metastasized)
- The patient’s general health
- Whether this is a new diagnosis of pancreatic cancer or whether it has returned
More Information
- Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
- Causes of pancreatic cancer
- Complications of pancreatic cancer
- Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
Do I have a Byetta Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
