If your physician suspects pancreatic cancer, he or she may order a series of diagnostic tests. An ERCP test is used to take X-rays of the common bile duct and pancreatic ducts. In a PTC test, dye is injected into the bile ducts of the liver to identify any blockages there. Similarly, in an angiography, dye is injected into the blood vessels so that the doctor can perform X-rays and identify blockages. If the physician finds cancer cells in the pancreas, he or she may order additional tests to determine the extent of the disease and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to control and can be cured only when it is found at an early stage.
Often by the time cancer of the pancreas is found, it has often spread to other parts of the body. That's why it is important to get any symptoms checked out as soon as possible. Treatment depends upon the exact location, size, type and extent of the tumor. The patient's age and current health are considered in developing a customized treatment plan. Treatment may include surgery , chemotherapy and radiation therapy , alone or in combination.