Pancreatic Cancer


Being told you have pancreatic cancer is overwhelming, and it is normal to feel frightened, anxious, or unsure of what comes next. This guide explains what your diagnosis means, how your care team will work together, and where to find trusted support.

What is pancreatic cancer?

The pancreas is an organ deep in your abdomen that makes hormones (like insulin) and enzymes that help you digest food. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. It can cause symptoms such as yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), belly or back pain, weight loss, poor appetite, or new diabetes.

Understanding your specific situation

Every person's cancer is different. Before recommending treatment, your team will "stage" your cancer — figuring out its size, location, and whether it has spread. Pancreatic cancer is usually grouped into one of four categories:

  • Resectable – the tumor can be removed with surgery

  • Borderline resectable – the tumor is close to important blood vessels; treatment before surgery may make removal possible

  • Locally advanced – the tumor cannot be removed with surgery but has not spread to distant organs

  • Metastatic – the cancer has spread to other parts of the body

Which category you fall into determines your treatment plan. It is important not to assume the worst before testing is complete — your team will explain exactly where you stand.

Tests you can expect

  • Imaging such as a specialized ("pancreatic protocol") CT scan or MRI

  • A biopsy to confirm the diagnosis

  • Blood tests, including a marker called CA 19-9

  • Genetic testing – all patients with pancreatic cancer are advised to have testing for inherited gene changes (such as BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, and others). This can affect your treatment and may have implications for your family members.

  • Tumor (molecular) profiling – testing the tumor itself for specific changes that may open the door to targeted treatments.

Treatment options

Your treatment will be tailored to you, and often combines more than one approach:

  • Surgery – The only potential cure is surgical removal of the tumor, when possible. Common operations include the Whipple procedure (for tumors in the head of the pancreas) and distal pancreatectomy (for tumors in the tail).

  • Chemotherapy – Medicine to kill cancer cells, given before surgery (to shrink the tumor), after surgery (to lower the chance of return), or as the main treatment for more advanced disease.

  • Radiation therapy – High-energy beams sometimes used together with chemotherapy or to control symptoms such as pain.

  • Targeted therapy and immunotherapy – For certain patients whose genetic or tumor testing shows specific changes.

  • Clinical trials – Studies of promising new treatments. You will be offered information about trials you may qualify for; these are worth discussing at every stage.

What to expect from your multidisciplinary team (BIDMC + Dana-Farber)

Pancreatic cancer is best treated by a team of specialists who review your case together — this is the standard of care and a core strength of the joint Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute program. Rather than seeing one doctor in isolation, your case is discussed by many experts at a "tumor board," and they build one coordinated plan for you.

Your team may include:

  • Medical oncologists (chemotherapy and overall cancer care)

  • Surgical oncologists (pancreatic surgery)

  • Radiation oncologists (radiation treatment)

  • Gastroenterologists / interventional endoscopists (procedures to relieve blockages of the bile duct or intestine)

  • Radiologists and pathologists (imaging and tissue diagnosis)

  • Genetic counselors (inherited-risk testing and family guidance)

  • Registered dietitians (nutrition and pancreatic enzyme support)

  • Palliative and supportive care specialists (symptom control and quality of life)

  • Nurse navigators and social workers (coordinating appointments and supporting you and your family)

Being cared for at a high-volume center — one that performs many pancreatic surgeries each year — is linked to better outcomes.

Supportive care: caring for how you feel

Supportive (palliative) care is not the same as hospice — it means treating symptoms and helping you feel your best, and it is offered alongside your cancer treatment from the very beginning. Your team can help with:

  • Pain – medications and specialized procedures (such as a nerve block) can control pain effectively

  • Jaundice or blockages – a small tube (stent) can relieve a blocked bile duct or intestine

  • Nutrition and digestion – pancreatic enzyme pills taken with meals help with digestion, bloating, and weight loss; a dietitian will guide you

  • Blood clots – common in pancreatic cancer and treatable/preventable

  • Emotional health – anxiety and depression are common and very treatable; counseling and support are available for you and your caregivers

Questions you may want to ask your team

  • What stage is my cancer, and can it be removed with surgery?

  • What is the goal of my treatment?

  • What are the results of my genetic and tumor testing?

  • Are there clinical trials I could join?

  • Who do I call with questions or new symptoms?

  • What can be done to help me feel better day to day?

Additional Resources — Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping pancreatic cancer patients and families. Their services are free and confidential.

  • Website: www.pancan.org

  • PanCAN Patient Services: Case managers provide personalized information about diagnosis, treatment options, clinical trials, diet and nutrition, and local resources.

  • What PanCAN offers:

    • One-on-one support from knowledgeable case managers

    • Help understanding your diagnosis and treatment choices

    • Clinical trial information and personalized trial searches

    • Guidance on molecular profiling and genetic testing

    • Diet and nutrition resources

    • Connection to survivor networks and support communities

    • Practical resources for caregivers