TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Source: Pancreatic Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: July 8, 2026 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
The prognosis and treatment options depend on:
whether the tumor can be removed by surgery
the stage of the cancer (the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread outside the pancreas to nearby tissues or lymph nodes or to other places in the body)
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the patient’s general health
whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back)
Pancreatic cancer can be controlled only if it is found before it has spread, when it can be completely removed by surgery. If the cancer has spread, palliative treatment can improve the patient's quality of life by controlling the symptoms and complications of this disease.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice