Source & Resource: The National Cancer Institute (NCI)
& NCO Booklet, "What You Need to Know about Pancreatic Cancer";
Website: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/pancreas/allpages
Questions about cancer?
Call the NCI at
1-800-4-CANCER
National Cancer Institute Information
Resources
Introduction
This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH
Publication No. 01-1560) has important information about cancer* of the
pancreas. In the United States,
cancer of the pancreas is diagnosed in more than 29,000 people every year.
This booklet discusses possible causes of cancer of the
pancreas. It also describes symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and followup care.
This information can help patients and their families better understand and
cope with this disease.
Scientists are studying cancer of the pancreas to learn more
about this disease. They are finding out more about its causes. Doctors are
exploring new ways to treat it. Research already has led to better quality of
life for people with cancer of the pancreas.
Information specialists at the NCI's Cancer Information
Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can help people with questions about cancer and can
send NCI publications. Also, many NCI publications are on the Internet at
http://www.cancer.gov/publications. People in the United
States and its territories may use this Web
site to order publications. This Web site also explains how people outside the United
States can mail or fax their requests for
NCI publications.
*Words that may be new to readers are in italics. The
"Dictionary" gives definitions of these terms. Some words in the
"Dictionary" have a "sounds-like" spelling to show how to
pronounce them.
The Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland located deep in the abdomen between
the stomach and the spine (backbone). The liver, intestine, and other organs
surround the pancreas.
The pancreas is about ..6 inches.. long and is shaped like a
flat pear. The widest part of the pancreas is the head, the middle section is
the body, and the thinnest part is the tail.
The pancreas makes insulin and other hormones. These
hormones enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. They help the
body use or store the energy that comes from food. For example, insulin helps
control the amount of sugar in the blood.
The pancreas also makes pancreatic juices. These juices
contain enzymes that help digest food. The pancreas releases the juices into a
system of ducts leading to the common bile duct. The common bile duct empties
into the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine.
Understanding Cancer
Cancer is a group of many related diseases. All cancers
begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life. Cells make up tissues, and
tissues make up the organs of the body.
Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the
body needs them. When cells grow old and die, new cells take their place.
Sometimes this orderly process breaks down. New cells form
when the body does not need them, or old cells do not die when they should.
These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.
Tumors can be benign or malignant:
• Benign
tumors are not cancer. Usually, doctors can remove them. In most cases, benign
tumors do not come back after they are removed. Cells from benign tumors do not
spread to tissues around them or to other parts of the body. Most important,
benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.
• Malignant
tumors are cancer. They are generally more serious and may be life threatening.
Cancer cells can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Also, cancer
cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or
lymphatic system. That is how cancer cells spread from the original cancer
(primary tumor) to form new tumors in other organs. The spread of cancer is
called metastasis.
Most pancreatic cancers begin in the ducts that carry
pancreatic juices. Cancer of the pancreas may be called pancreatic cancer or
carcinoma of the pancreas.
A rare type of pancreatic cancer begins in the cells that
make insulin and other hormones. Cancer that begins in these cells is called
islet cell cancer. This booklet does not deal with this rare disease. The Cancer
Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER) can provide information about islet cell
cancer.
When cancer of the pancreas spreads (metastasizes) outside
the pancreas, cancer cells are often found in nearby lymph nodes. If the cancer
has reached these nodes, it means that cancer cells may have spread to other
lymph nodes or other tissues, such as the liver or lungs. Sometimes cancer of
the pancreas spreads to the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the abdomen.
When cancer spreads from its original place to another part
of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same
name as the primary tumor. For example, if cancer of the pancreas spreads to
the liver, the cancer cells in the liver are pancreatic cancer cells. The
disease is metastatic pancreatic cancer, not liver cancer. It is treated as
pancreatic cancer, not liver cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer: Who's at Risk?
No one knows the exact causes of pancreatic cancer. Doctors
can seldom explain why one person gets pancreatic cancer and another does not.
However, it is clear that this disease is not contagious. No one can
"catch" cancer from another person.
Risk Factors
Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are
more likely than others to develop pancreatic cancer. A risk factor is anything
that increases a person's chance of developing a disease.
Studies have found the following risk factors:
• Age -- The
likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age. Most pancreatic
cancers occur in people over the age of 60.
• Smoking --
Cigarette smokers are two or three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop
pancreatic cancer.
• Diabetes --
Pancreatic cancer occurs more often in people who have diabetes than in people
who do not.
• Being male
-- More men than women are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• Being
African American -- African Americans are more likely than Asians, Hispanics,
or whites to get pancreatic cancer.
• Family
history -- The risk for developing pancreatic cancer triples if a person's
mother, father, sister, or brother had the disease. Also, a family history of
colon or ovarian cancer increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Chronic
pancreatitis -- Chronic pancreatitis is a painful condition of the pancreas.
Some evidence suggests that chronic pancreatitis may increase the risk of
pancreatic cancer.
Other studies suggest that exposure to certain chemicals in
the workplace or a diet high in fat may increase the chance of getting
pancreatic cancer.
Most people with known risk factors do not get pancreatic
cancer. On the other hand, many who do get the disease have none of these
factors. People who think they may be at risk for pancreatic cancer should
discuss this concern with their doctor. The doctor may suggest ways to reduce
the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.
Symptoms
Pancreatic cancer is sometimes called a "silent
disease" because early pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms.
But, as the cancer grows, symptoms may include:
• Pain in the
upper abdomen or upper back
• Yellow skin
and eyes, and dark urine from jaundice
• Weakness
• Loss of
appetite
• Nausea and
vomiting
• Weight loss
These symptoms are not sure signs of pancreatic cancer. An
infection or other problem could also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can
diagnose the cause of a person's symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should
see a doctor so that the doctor can treat any problem as early as possible.
Diagnosis
If a patient has symptoms that suggest pancreatic cancer,
the doctor asks about the patient's medical history. The doctor may perform a
number of procedures, including one or more of the following:
• Physical
exam -- The doctor examines the skin and eyes for signs of jaundice. The doctor
then feels the abdomen to check for changes in the area near the pancreas,
liver, and gallbladder. The doctor also checks for ascites, an abnormal buildup
of fluid in the abdomen.
• Lab tests
-- The doctor may take blood, urine, and stool samples to check for bilirubin
and other substances. Bilirubin is a substance that passes from the liver to
the gallbladder to the intestine. If the common bile duct is blocked by a
tumor, the bilirubin cannot pass through normally. Blockage may cause the level
of bilirubin in the blood, stool, or urine to become very high. High bilirubin
levels can result from cancer or from noncancerous conditions.
• CT scan
(Computed tomography) -- An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series
of detailed pictures. The x-ray machine is shaped like a donut with a large
hole. The patient lies on a bed that passes through the hole. As the bed moves
slowly through the hole, the machine takes many x-rays. The computer puts the
x-rays together to create pictures of the pancreas and other organs and blood
vessels in the abdomen.
• Ultrasonography
-- The ultrasound device uses sound waves that cannot be heard by humans. The
sound waves produce a pattern of echoes as they bounce off internal organs. The
echoes create a picture of the pancreas and other organs inside the abdomen.
The echoes from tumors are different from echoes made by healthy tissues.
The ultrasound procedure may use an external or internal
device, or both types:
o Transabdominal
ultrasound: To make images of the pancreas, the doctor places the ultrasound
device on the abdomen and slowly moves it around.
o EUS
(Endoscopic ultrasound): The doctor passes a thin, lighted tube (endoscope)
through the patient's mouth and stomach, down into the first part of the small
intestine. At the tip of the endoscope is an ultrasound device. The doctor
slowly withdraws the endoscope from the intestine toward the stomach to make
images of the pancreas and surrounding organs and tissues.
• ERCP
(endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) -- The doctor passes an
endoscope through the patient's mouth and stomach, down into the first part of
the small intestine. The doctor slips a smaller tube (catheter) through the
endoscope into the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts. After injecting dye through
the catheter into the ducts, the doctor takes x-ray pictures. The x-rays can
show whether the ducts are narrowed or blocked by a tumor or other condition.
• PTC
(percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography) -- A dye is injected through a thin
needle inserted through the skin into the liver. Unless there is a blockage,
the dye should move freely through the bile ducts. The dye makes the bile ducts
show up on x-ray pictures. From the pictures, the doctor can tell whether there
is a blockage from a tumor or other condition.
• Biopsy --
In some cases, the doctor may remove tissue. A pathologist then uses a
microscope to look for cancer cells in the tissue. The doctor may obtain tissue
in several ways. One way is by inserting a needle into the pancreas to remove
cells. This is called fine-needle aspiration. The doctor uses x-ray or
ultrasound to guide the needle. Sometimes the doctor obtains a sample of tissue
during EUS or ERCP. Another way is to open the abdomen during an operation.
A person who needs a biopsy may want to ask the
doctor the following questions:
• What kind
of biopsy will I have?
• How long
will it take? Will I be awake? Will it hurt?
• Are there
any risks?
• How soon
will I know the results?
• If I do
have cancer, who will talk to me about treatment? When?
Staging
When pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, the doctor needs to
know the stage, or extent, of the disease to plan the best treatment. Staging
is a careful attempt to find out the size of the tumor in the pancreas, whether
the cancer has spread, and if so, to what parts of the body.
The doctor may determine the stage of pancreatic cancer at
the time of diagnosis, or the patient may need to have more tests. Such tests
may include blood tests, a CT scan, ultrasonography, laparoscopy, or
angiography. The test results will help the doctor decide which treatment is
appropriate.
Treatment
Many people with pancreatic cancer want to take an active
part in making decisions about their medical care. They want to learn all they
can about their disease and their treatment choices. However, the shock and
stress that people may feel after a diagnosis of cancer can make it hard for
them to think of everything they want to ask the doctor. Often it helps to make
a list of questions before an appointment. To help remember what the doctor
says, patients may take notes or ask whether they may use a tape recorder. Some
patients also want to have a family member or friend with them when they talk
to the doctor-to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just to listen.
Cancer of the pancreas is very hard to control with current
treatments. For that reason, many doctors encourage patients with this disease
to consider taking part in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are an important
option for people with all stages of pancreatic cancer. The section on
"The Promise of Cancer Research" has more information about clinical
trials.
At this time, pancreatic cancer can be cured only when it is
found at an early stage, before it has spread. However, other treatments may be
able to control the disease and help patients live longer and feel better. When
a cure or control of the disease is not possible, some patients and their
doctors choose palliative therapy. Palliative therapy aims to improve quality
of life by controlling pain and other problems caused by this disease.
The doctor may refer patients to an oncologist, a doctor who
specializes in treating cancer, or patients may ask for a referral. Specialists
who treat pancreatic cancer include surgeons, medical oncologists, and
radiation oncologists. Treatment generally begins within a few weeks after the
diagnosis. There will be time for patients to talk with the doctor about
treatment choices, get a second opinion, and learn more about the disease.
Getting a Second Opinion
Before starting treatment, a patient may want a second
opinion about the diagnosis and the treatment plan. Some insurance companies
require a second opinion; others may cover a second opinion if the patient requests
it. Gathering medical records and arranging to see another doctor may take a
little time. In most cases, a brief delay to get another opinion will not make
therapy less helpful.
There are a number of ways to find a doctor for a second
opinion:
• The doctor
may refer patients to one or more specialists. At cancer centers, several
specialists often work together as a team.
• The Cancer
Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER) can tell callers about treatment
facilities, including cancer centers and other programs supported by the
National Cancer Institute, and can send printed information about finding a
doctor.
• A local
medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school can usually provide the
name of specialists.
Preparing for Treatment
The doctor can describe treatment choices and discuss the
results expected with each treatment option. The doctor and patient can work
together to develop a treatment plan that fits the patient's needs.
Treatment depends on where in the pancreas the tumor started
and whether the disease has spread. When planning treatment, the doctor also
considers other factors, including the patient's age and general health.
These are some questions a person may want to ask the doctor
before treatment begins:
• What is the
diagnosis?
• Where in
the pancreas did the cancer start?
• Is there
any evidence the cancer has spread? What is the stage of the disease?
• Do I need
any more tests to check whether the disease has spread?
• What are my
treatment choices? Which do you recommend for me? Why?
• What are
the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
• What are
the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
• What is the
treatment likely to cost? Is this treatment covered by my insurance plan?
• How will
treatment affect my normal activities?
• Would a
clinical trial (research study) be appropriate for me?
People do not need to ask all of their questions or
understand all of the answers at one time. They will have other chances to ask
the doctor to explain things that are not clear and to ask for more
information.
Methods of Treatment
People with pancreatic cancer may have several treatment
options. Depending on the type and stage, pancreatic cancer may be treated with
surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Some patients have a combination
of therapies.
Surgery may be used alone or in combination with radiation
therapy and chemotherapy.
The surgeon may remove all or part of the pancreas. The
extent of surgery depends on the location and size of the tumor, the stage of
the disease, and the patient's general health.
• Whipple
procedure: If the tumor is in the head (the widest part) of the pancreas, the
surgeon removes the head of the pancreas and part of the small intestine, bile
duct, and stomach. The surgeon may also remove other nearby tissues.
• Distal
pancreatectomy: The surgeon removes the body and tail of the pancreas if the
tumor is in either of these parts. The surgeon also removes the spleen.
• Total
pancreatectomy: The surgeon removes the entire pancreas, part of the small
intestine, a portion of the stomach, the common bile duct, the gallbladder, the
spleen, and nearby lymph nodes.
Sometimes the cancer cannot be completely removed. But if
the tumor is blocking the common bile duct or duodenum, the surgeon can create
a bypass. A bypass allows fluids to flow through the digestive tract. It can
help relieve jaundice and pain resulting from a blockage.
The doctor sometimes can relieve blockage without doing
bypass surgery. The doctor uses an endoscope to place a stent in the blocked
area. A stent is a tiny plastic or metal mesh tube that helps keep the duct or
duodenum open.
After surgery, some patients are fed liquids intravenously
(by IV) and through feeding tubes placed into the abdomen. Patients slowly
return to eating solid foods by mouth. A few weeks after surgery, the feeding
tubes are removed.
These are some questions a person may want to ask
the doctor before having surgery:
• What kind
of operation will I have?
• How will I
feel after the operation?
• How will
you treat my pain?
• What other
treatment will I need?
• How long
will I be in the hospital?
• Will I need
a feeding tube after surgery? Will I need a special diet?
• What are
the long-term effects?
• When can I
get back to my normal activities?
• How often
will I need checkups?
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses
high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. A large machine directs radiation at the
abdomen. Radiation therapy may be given alone, or with surgery, chemotherapy,
or both.
Radiation therapy is local therapy. It affects cancer cells
only in the treated area. For radiation therapy, patients go to the hospital or
clinic, often 5 days a week for several weeks.
Doctors may use radiation to destroy cancer cells that
remain in the area after surgery. They also use radiation to relieve pain and
other problems caused by the cancer.
These are some questions a person may want to ask
the doctor before having radiation therapy:
• Why do I
need this treatment?
• When will
the treatments begin? When will they end?
• How will I
feel during therapy? Are there side effects?
• What can I
do to take care of myself during therapy? Are there certain foods that I should
eat or avoid?
• How will we
know if the radiation is working?
• Will I be
able to continue my normal activities during treatment?
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells.
Doctors also give chemotherapy to help reduce pain and other problems caused by
pancreatic cancer. It may be given alone, with radiation, or with surgery and
radiation.
Chemotherapy is systemic therapy. The doctor usually gives
the drugs by injection. Once in the bloodstream, the drugs travel throughout
the body.
Usually chemotherapy is an outpatient treatment given at the
hospital, clinic, doctor's office, or home. However, depending on which drugs
are given and the patient's general health, the patient may need to stay in the
hospital.
Patients may want to ask these questions about
chemotherapy:
• Why do I
need this treatment?
• What will
it do?
• What drugs
will I be taking? How will they be given? Will I need to stay in the hospital?
• Will the
treatment cause side effects? What can I do about them?
• How long
will I be on this treatment?
Side Effects of Treatment
Because cancer treatment may damage healthy cells and
tissues, unwanted side effects are common. These side effects depend on many
factors, including the type and extent of the treatment. Side effects may not
be the same for each person, and they may even change from one treatment
session to the next. The health care team will explain possible side effects
and how they will help the patient manage them.
The NCI provides helpful booklets about cancer treatments
and coping with side effects, such as Radiation Therapy and You, Chemotherapy
and You, and Eating Hints for Cancer Patients. See the sections called
"National Cancer Institute Information Resources" and "National
Cancer Institute Booklets" for other sources of information about side
effects.
Surgery
Surgery for pancreatic cancer is a major operation. Patients
need to stay in the hospital for several days afterward. Patients may feel weak
or tired. Most need to rest at home for about a month. The length of time it
takes to regain strength varies.
The side effects of surgery depend on the extent of the
operation, the person's general health, and other factors. Most patients have
pain for the first few days after surgery. Pain can be controlled with
medicine, and patients should discuss pain relief with the doctor or nurse. The
section on "Pain Control" has more information.
Removal of part or all of the pancreas may make it hard for
a patient to digest foods. The health care team can suggest a diet plan and
medicines to help relieve diarrhea, pain, cramping, or feelings of fullness.
During the recovery from surgery, the doctor will carefully monitor the
patient's diet and weight. At first, a patient may have only liquids and may
receive extra nourishment intravenously or by feeding tube into the intestine.
Solid foods are added to the diet gradually.
Patients may not have enough pancreatic enzymes or hormones
after surgery. Those who do not have enough insulin may develop diabetes. The
doctor can give the patient insulin, other hormones, and enzymes. The section
"Nutrition for Cancer Patients" has more information.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy may cause patients to become very tired as
treatment continues. Resting is important, but doctors usually advise patients
to try to stay as active as they can. In addition, when patients receive
radiation therapy, the skin in the treated area may sometimes become red, dry,
and tender.
Radiation therapy to the abdomen may cause nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, or other problems with digestion. The health care team can offer
medicine or suggest diet changes to control these problems. For most patients,
the side effects of radiation therapy go away when treatment is over.
Chemotherapy
The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the drugs
and the doses the patient receives as well as how the drugs are given. In
addition, as with other types of treatment, side effects vary from patient to
patient.
Systemic chemotherapy affects rapidly dividing cells
throughout the body, including blood cells. Blood cells fight infection, help
the blood to clot, and carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When anticancer
drugs damage healthy blood cells, patients are more likely to get infections,
may bruise or bleed easily, and may have less energy. Cells in hair roots and
cells that line the digestive tract also divide rapidly. As a result, patients
may lose their hair and may have other side effects such as poor appetite,
nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth sores. Usually, these side effects go
away gradually during the recovery periods between treatments or after
treatment is over. The health care team can suggest ways to relieve side
effects.
Pain Control
Pain is a common problem for people with pancreatic cancer.
The tumor can cause pain by pressing against nerves and other organs.
The patient's doctor or a specialist in pain control can
relieve or reduce pain in several ways:
• Pain
medicine - Medicines often can relieve pain. (These medicines may make people
drowsy and constipated, but resting and taking laxatives can help.)
• Radiation -
High-energy rays can help relieve pain by shrinking the tumor.
• Nerve block
- The doctor may inject alcohol into the area around certain nerves in the
abdomen to block the feeling of pain.
• Surgery -
The surgeon may cut certain nerves to block pain.
The doctor may suggest other ways to relieve or reduce pain.
For example, massage, acupuncture, or acupressure may be used along with other
approaches to help relieve pain. Also, the patient may learn relaxation
techniques such as listening to slow music or breathing slowly and comfortably.
More information about pain control can be found in the NCI
booklet Pain Control. The NCI's Cancer Information Service can send this
booklet.
Nutrition
People with pancreatic cancer may not feel like eating,
especially if they are uncomfortable or tired. Also, the side effects of
treatment such as poor appetite, nausea, or vomiting can make eating difficult.
Foods may taste different. Nevertheless, patients should try to get enough
calories and protein to control weight loss, maintain strength, and promote
healing. Also, eating well often helps people with cancer feel better and have
more energy.
Careful planning and checkups are important. Cancer of the
pancreas and its treatment may make it hard for patients to digest food and
maintain the proper blood sugar level. The doctor will check the patient for
weight loss, weakness, and lack of energy. Patients may need to take medicines
to replace the enzymes and hormones made by the pancreas. The doctor will watch
the patient closely and adjust the doses of these medicines.
The doctor, dietitian, or other health care provider can
advise patients about ways to maintain a healthy diet. Patients and their
families may want to read the National Cancer Institute booklet Eating Hints
for Cancer Patients, which contains many useful suggestions and recipes. The
"National Cancer Institute Booklets" section tells how to get this
publication.
Followup Care
Followup care after treatment for pancreatic cancer is an
important part of the overall treatment plan. Patients should not hesitate to
discuss followup with their doctor. Regular checkups ensure that any changes in
health are noticed. Any problem that develops can be found and treated.
Checkups may include a physical exam, laboratory tests, and imaging procedures.
Support for People with Pancreatic Cancer
Living with a serious disease such as pancreatic cancer is
not easy. Some people find they need help coping with the emotional and
practical aspects of their disease. Support groups can help. In these groups,
patients or their family members get together to share what they have learned about
coping with their disease and the effects of treatment. Patients may want to
talk with a member of their health care team about finding a support group.
People living with pancreatic cancer may worry about the
future. They may worry about caring for themselves or their families, keeping
their jobs, or continuing daily activities. Concerns about treatments and
managing side effects, hospital stays, and medical bills are also common.
Doctors, nurses, and other members of the health care team can answer questions
about treatment, diet, working, or other matters. Meeting with a social worker,
counselor, or member of the clergy can be helpful to those who want to talk
about their feelings or discuss their concerns. Often, a social worker can
suggest resources for financial aid, transportation, home care, emotional
support, or other services.
Materials on coping with cancer are available from the
Cancer Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER) and through other sources listed in
the "National Cancer Institute Information Resources" section. The
Cancer Information Service can also provide information to help patients and
their families locate programs, services, and publications.
The Promise of Cancer Research
Laboratory scientists are studying the pancreas to learn
more about it. They are studying the possible causes of pancreatic cancer and
are researching new ways to detect tumors. They also are looking for new
therapies that may kill cancer cells.
Doctors in clinics and hospitals are conducting many types
of clinical trials. These are research studies in which people take part
voluntarily. In these trials, researchers are studying ways to treat pancreatic
cancer. Research already has led to advances in treatment methods, and
researchers continue to search for more effective approaches to treat this
disease.
Patients who join clinical trials have the first chance to
benefit from new treatments that have shown promise in earlier research. They
also make an important contribution to medical science by helping doctors learn
more about the disease. Although clinical trials may pose some risks,
researchers take very careful steps to protect their patients.
In trials with people who have pancreatic cancer, doctors
are studying new drugs, new combinations of chemotherapy, and combinations of
chemotherapy and radiation before and after surgery.
Biological therapy is also under investigation. Scientists
are studying several cancer vaccines to help the immune system fight cancer.
Other studies use monoclonal antibodies to slow or stop the growth of cancer.
Patients who are interested in joining a clinical study
should talk with their doctor. They may want to read the NCI booklet Taking
Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies. It explains how clinical trials are
carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks. NCI's Web site at
http://www.cancer.gov on the Internet provides general information about
clinical trials. It also offers detailed information about specific ongoing
studies of pancreatic cancer by linking to PDQ®, NCI's cancer information
database. The Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can answer questions
about cancer clinical trials and can provide information from the PDQ database.
National Cancer Institute Booklets
These National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklets are available
from the Cancer Information Service by calling 1-800-4-CANCER. They are also
available on the NCI Publications Locator Web site, which is located at
http://www.cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.
Booklets About Cancer Treatment
• Chemotherapy
and You: A Guide to Self-Help During Treatment
• Eating
Hints for Cancer Patients
• Pain
Control: A Guide for People with Cancer and Their Families
• Radiation
Therapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help During Treatment
• Taking Part
in Cancer Treatment Research Studies
• La
quimioterapia y usted: Una guía de autoayuda durante el tratamiento del cáncer (Chemotherapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help During Treatment for Cancer)
• El dolor
relacionado con el cáncer (Understanding Cancer Pain)
• El
tratamiento de radioterapia: Guía para el paciente durante el tratamiento
(Radiation Therapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help During Treatment)
Booklets About Living With Cancer
• Advanced
Cancer: Living Each Day
• Facing
Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment
• Siga
Adelante: la vida después del
tratamiento del cáncer (Facing
Forward Series: Life After Cancer Treatment)
• Taking
Time: Support for People With Cancer and the People Who Care About Them
• When Cancer
Recurs: Meeting the Challenge
National Cancer Institute Information
Resources
You may want more information for yourself, your family, and
your doctor. The NCI offers comprehensive research-based information for all.