Pancreatic Cancer

Biliary Stent Placement
A thin, flexible tube called an endoscope is inserted in the mouth and used to guide the insertion of plastic or metal mesh tubes to open a blocked bile duct.

Duodenal Stent Placement
When cancer blocks the outlet of the stomach, one option is to place a stent across the obstruction. This is done via an endoscope. Doctors place a soft tube made of a metal mesh to push the tumor out and to open up the blockage.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gastrojejunostomy
This new procedure is performed when cancer blocks the outlet of the stomach. It creates a connection between the stomach and a healthy portion of the small intestine, bypassing the obstruction. This is done through an endoscope, without any skin incisions. 

Chemotherapy
Medicine can be given by mouth or IV to kill or slow the growth of the tumor. Doctors often recommend chemotherapy before surgery to help reduce the size of the tumor.

Radiation Therapy
External beams deliver radiation directly to your pancreatic tumor to slow or stop cancer growth. Radiation therapy may be combined with chemotherapy before or after surgery.
 
Interventional Radiology Treatments
A blocked bile duct may be treated with a catheter that goes through the liver. This treatment is usually intended to be a short-term solution and is performed when a biliary obstruction cannot be treated with an endoscope.

Your Pancreatic Cancer Team
Our medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, and support team work together as a team and meet at least weekly to discuss challenging cases. Your personalized care is our goal.
 
Nutrition as Part of Your Treatment
Our dedicated nutritionist evaluates all new patients and offers counseling on diet and supplements to enhance your recovery. If you require surgery, our nutritionist will help you progress to normal eating and digestion as quickly as possible, a major hurdle for many people with pancreatic cancer.
 
High-Volume Whipple Center
This complex procedure requires high-level surgical skill and a knowledgeable staff, both of which you’ll find at Duke. Studies show that people who undergo a Whipple procedure in a major cancer center like ours experience fewer surgical complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery.
 
Laparoscopic Whipple Experience
More than 100 laparoscopic Whipple procedures have been performed at Duke since we started doing this advanced, minimally invasive surgical procedure in 2010. Our experience has resulted in shorter operating times, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays.

Nationally Recognized Experts
Our specialists are funded by the National Institutes of Health to study new ways to care for people with pancreatic cancer and precancerous lesions of the pancreas. Collectively, our findings have been published in more than 200 respected medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine. The Duke Cancer Institute is part of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers dedicated to improving patient care.  
 
Access to Clinical Trials
As part of a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, our pancreatic cancer team is recognized for exploring new therapies through ongoing research and clinical trials. As a Duke patient, you may be eligible to participate in clinical trials that are testing new therapies before they become widely available.
 
Support for You and Your Family
Our comprehensive support services range from helping patients minimize the side effects of treatment to coping with the emotional and psychological effects of diagnosis and treatment. View all of our cancer support groups in our event calendar.