These surgical resections are performed only when the potential for a cure exists. Bypasses are done for areas which are obstructed by tumor growth. Surgery is not performed if the disease has spread beyond the pancreas. Radiation Therapy is used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors by use of x-rays or internal radiation therapy with radioisotopes. It is also used post operatively as an adjutant to chemotherapy, but the decrease in mortality is not conclusive and gastrointestinal bleeding and distress are adverse effects.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill the cancer cells and is taken orally or hypodermically.
This method can kill the cells systematically outside the pancreas. Adverse effects include leukopenia and G.I. toxicity. All treatments, even with early detection, have yielded inclusive results regarding decreased mortality effectiveness. Most patients usually die within one year of diagnosis even with treatment. Pancreatic Carcinoma .