Pancreatic Cancer

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Pancreatic cancer is an abnormal growth of tissue in the pancreas. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow and divide without control or order and causing a tumor. No one knows for sure what causes pancreatic cancer. You are at a higher risk for getting it if you smoke a lot. The main signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer are jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes), lower back pain that does not go away, and unplanned weight loss. Pictures of your abdomen (stomach) may be taken to help diagnose the cancer. Tests include abdominal ultrasound, CT scan and MRI. The main treatment for pancreatic cancer is surgery, but anticancer medicines may also be given.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• The treatments for pancreatic cancer may cause side effects. Anticancer medicines can cause nausea and vomiting. You may bleed too much or have problems absorbing food after pancreatic cancer surgery. After surgery, you may get a blood clot in your leg or arm. This can cause pain and swelling, and it can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs or brain. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. A blood clot in your brain can cause a stroke. These problems can be life-threatening.
  
  
• It is important to find out early if you have pancreatic cancer since it spreads to other parts of the body in a short time. The earlier a cancer is found, the better its chances of being cured. Sometimes even with treatment, your cancer may return, or you may die. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your disease, care or treatment.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Blood tests:

You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.

Drains:

These are thin rubber tubes put into your skin to drain fluid from around your incision. The drains are taken out when the incision stops draining.

Drinking liquids:

Men 19 years old and older should drink about three Liters of liquid each day (about 13 eight-ounce cups). Women 19 years old and older should drink about two Liters of liquid each day (about 9 eight-ounce cups). Follow your caregiver's advice if you must change the amount of liquid you drink. For most people, healthy liquids to drink are water, juices, and milk. If you are used to drinking liquids that contain caffeine, such as coffee, these can also be counted in your daily liquid amount. Try to drink enough liquid each day, and not just when you feel thirsty.

Intake and output:

Caregivers will keep track of the amount of liquid you are getting. They also may need to know how much you are urinating. Ask how much liquid you should drink each day. Ask caregivers if they need to measure or collect your urine.

IV:

An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

Your caregiver may give you one or more of the following medicines:

• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
  
  
• Anti-itching medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to help keep your skin from itching. This medicine may be given in an IV, as a shot, by mouth, or as a skin lotion. Sometimes this medicine can make you sleepy.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.

Tests:

You may need one or more of the following tests to help your caregivers plan your treatment:

• Abdominal ultrasound: This test is done so caregivers can see the tissues and organs of your abdomen. Gel will be put on your abdomen and a small sensor will be moved across your abdomen. The sensor uses sound waves to send pictures of your abdomen to a TV-like screen.
  
  
• CT scan: This is also called a CAT scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your pancreas and nearby organs. You may be given dye before the pictures are taken. The dye is usually given in your IV. The dye may help your caregiver see the pictures better. People who are allergic to iodine or shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may be allergic to some dyes. Tell the caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish, or have other allergies or medical conditions.
  
  
• ERCP: This is also called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. During an ERCP, a thin tube with a tiny light and camera near the end, is put in your mouth. It goes down the throat, through the stomach, and into the small intestine. A smaller tube can go inside the tube you swallowed, and into the pancreatic ducts. Your caregiver will then inject a dye and take x-rays. Tell your caregiver if you have allergies to dyes or certain foods.
  
  
• MRI: This test is called magnetic resonance imaging. MRI allows caregivers to see inside your body. Pictures of your abdomen will be taken to see if the pancreatic cancer has spread. You will need to lay still during an MRI. Never enter the MRI room with an oxygen tank, watch or any metal object. This can cause serious injury.

Treatment options:

Pancreatic cancer is treated differently depending on whether or not it has spread to other parts of your body. The types of treatment for pancreatic cancer are the following:

• Surgery: Surgery to remove the tumor is the main treatment for pancreatic cancer. This is done on tumors that are small and have not spread to other parts of the body. If the tumor can not be operated on, your caregiver may place a tube (stent) in the bile duct to decrease the jaundice. Ask your caregiver for more information about surgery that may be done to treat pancreatic cancer.
  
  
• Chemotherapy: This medicine which is often called "chemo", is used to treat cancer. It works by killing tumor cells. Chemotherapy may also be used to shrink lymph nodes that have cancer in them. Chemotherapy may have unpleasant side effects. Caregivers will watch you closely and will work with you to decrease side effects. You may have both surgery and chemotherapy while admitted to the hospital, or you may receive chemotherapy treatments at home.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Pancreatic Cancer (Inpatient Care)