Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (Part 2)
When the tumor is blocking the bile duct or duodenum, the surgeon may do the patient a sort of ‘bypass’.
A ‘bridge’ that will allow fluids normally think through the digestive system and relieves the symptoms of jaundice and pain resulting from the blockage.
Similar results can be obtained without resorting to ‘bypass’. Simply insert a biliary stent in the buffer zone, a small mesh that keeps the tubes open.
Most operations require that patients remain hospitalized in the hospital for several days to recover, except in cases of biliary stents after placement of which improvement may be rapid and even ir the patient can go home the next day.
In all other cases, it is normal that the patient is tired and weak in the days immediately following, and most need to be at least a month of rest at home after leaving the hospital.
In addition, it will normally take several months for patients with fluids, and even with intravenous feeding, because the removal of a portion of the pancreas usually result in difficulties in digesting food. May be gradually returning to their normal diet, as they are removing the tubes from the abdomen.
One of the most common side effects is pain, although this can be controlled easily with analgesic drugs. Sometimes, if the body is unable to produce insulin again at appropriate levels, the operator can develop diabetes.
The prognosis of these patients is significantly better if the pancreas can be removed. When the operation is impossible, this cancer is fatally mortal (the average survival is only one year). Even with intervention, the cure rate is below 50%.
* Radiation therapy.
This is local therapy, which affects only the area where radiation is applied, unlike chemotherapy, which is considered systemic, because it reaches all areas of the body. Radiation can be applied after the operation to try to completely eliminate diseased cells that have been able to survive in the area, or as a palliative treatment to relieve pain and other problems caused directly by cancer.
* Chemotherapy.
The use of these drugs is aimed at killing cancer cells, but doctors may also recommend to reduce pain or to shrink the tumor before entering the operating room. You can use a single drug or in combination with other agents, or even adding radiotherapy sessions.
The lack of appetite, nausea or weight loss caused by these therapeutic agents are common to all cancers, not just the pancreas. In any case, the recommendations are consistent, to lead a healthy and balanced diet, try to rest properly, and motivational activities.
* Drugs.
To try to fill the role of a completely healthy pancreas, doctors may resort to the administration of some drugs that replace the functions that normally make hormones.
This is the case of pancreatic enzyme tablets, which improve the body’s ability to absorb nutrients or insulin injections are applied with the intention of balancing the levels of this hormone in the body.
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