The treatment for pancreatic cancer varies according to the organ's involvement, the degree of cancer development and the appearance of metastases, for example.
Thus, each case must be evaluated by an oncologist in order to choose one of the following forms of treatment:
- Surgery: it is usually done when the cancer has not yet developed outside the organ. In surgery, the affected region of the pancreas is removed, as well as other organs that are at high risk of being affected, such as the intestine or gallbladder;
- Radiotherapy: can be used before surgery to decrease the size of the tumor, or after surgery to eliminate the remaining cancer cells;
- Chemotherapy: it is usually used in more advanced cases and uses medicines directly in the vein to destroy cancer cells. When there are metastases, this treatment can be combined with radiotherapy to obtain better results.
In addition, there are still forms of alternative treatment that cannot guarantee the cure of the disease, but that can help to relieve some symptoms or even improve the effect of medical treatment.
Although there are several ways to cure pancreatic cancer, treatment is usually very difficult, because as this disease does not cause symptoms in the early stages, it is usually only identified when the cancer has already spread to other organs.
If the treatment fails to fight cancer, the oncologist usually advises palliative treatment, which helps to relieve symptoms and improve comfort during the person's last days.
Chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer
Chemotherapy is one of the most used treatment options for pancreatic cancer, especially in cases of exocrine cancer, which is the most common and most serious type.
Generally, chemotherapy can be used in 3 different ways during treatment:
- Before surgery: helps to reduce the size of the tumor, facilitating its removal during surgery;
- After surgery: it allows the elimination of cancer cells that were not removed with the surgery;
- Instead of surgery: when the surgery cannot be used because the cancer is already widespread or the person does not have the conditions to be operated.
In addition, chemotherapy can also be associated with radiotherapy, which uses radiation to eliminate cancer cells, having a more potent action when used together.
In most cases, chemotherapy is done in cycles, and it is common to have 1 to 2 weeks of treatment, interspersed with a rest period for the body to recover.
Side effects of chemotherapy on the body vary depending on the medication used and its dosage, however, the most common include vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, hair loss, mouth sores, diarrhea, constipation, excessive tiredness and bleeding. In addition, people undergoing chemotherapy are also at increased risk of developing infections. Learn more about the side effects of chemotherapy in the body and how to deal with them.
Typically used remedies
Some of the remedies most used in the chemotherapy treatment of pancreatic cancer are:
- Gemcitabine;
- Erlotinib;
- Fluorouracil;
- Irinotecan;
- Oxaliplatin;
- Capecitabine;
- Paclitaxel;
- Docetaxel.
These drugs can be used separately or in combination, depending on the health status of each patient.
In cases of terminal pancreatic cancer, taking these drugs is not necessary, and only strong analgesics are recommended to reduce the pain of the patient in the final stage of life.
Causes of pancreatic cancer
Some of the causes of pancreatic cancer are:
- Smoking actively or passively
- Excessive consumption of fats, meat and alcoholic beverages
- Exposure to chemicals such as petroleum derivatives and paint solvents, for example
- In case of chronic pancreatitis or diabetes mellitus that is not properly treated
All of the aforementioned causes are related to an overload on the pancreas and any other disease that can somehow affect the involvement of this organ can also end up generating pancreatic cancer.
Individuals who have severe digestive problems such as chronic pancreatitis or who have undergone surgery to repair an ulcer in the stomach, duodenum or who have undergone gallbladder removal are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer and should be aware of first signs and symptoms of the disease.
Performing blood tests, feces, urine every 6 months can be useful and if any of these tests show significant changes, the doctor may prescribe a CT scan or MRI to look at the internal organs. If, in the face of these tests, the doctor finds that the pancreas or liver are compromised, biopsy of the tissue may show the presence of cancer cells.
How palliative treatment is done
Palliative treatment of pancreatic cancer is indicated when the disease is discovered at a very advanced stage and the chances of cure with medical treatment are minimal. This type of treatment aims to decrease the patient's pain and discomfort, and can be done during hospital stay or at home, with the use of strong analgesics that can relieve the pain.
If discovered at an advanced stage, understand the life span of a person with pancreatic cancer.
How To Live With Pancreatic Cancer
Living with pancreatic cancer is not easy for the patient or the family. The patient must start treatment while staying in an oncology hospital as soon as the disease is diagnosed to start treatment early.
Starting treatment promptly is important because the later treatment is started, the more the disease spreads and the shorter its life span and the fewer treatment alternatives are possible.
Lifetime of individuals with pancreatic cancer
The survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer varies from 6 months to 5 years and will depend on the size, location and whether the tumor has metastasized or not.
After medical observation and due clinical studies, the patient may be sent home, but must return on the days determined by the doctors to undergo surgery to remove the tumor to continue drug treatment and, if necessary, perform radiotherapy sessions.
Rights of patients with pancreatic cancer
To ensure the patient and the family, the cancer patient has some rights such as:
- Withdrawal from FGTS, PIS / PASEP;
- Free public transport;
- Priority in the progress of legal processes;
- Disease aid;
- By disability retirement;
- Income Tax Exemption;
- Benefit of the benefit provided by the INSS (receive 1 minimum wage monthly);
- Free drugs;
- Receive the private pension plan.
Other rights include the receipt of an indemnity due to life insurance and the settlement of the home, depending on the contract signed by the patient before being diagnosed with the disease.
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