Pancreatic Cancer

The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach that helps your body digest food and regulate blood sugar, and pancreatic cancer begins when abnormal cells grow and form a tumor in this organ.

About Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of the pancreas, a gland that helps with digestion and blood sugar control.

  • Pancreatic cancer can be difficult to detect early because it often develops without noticeable symptoms in its initial stages.
  • Many cases are diagnosed after the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas, making timely, specialized care especially important.

Risks Factors for Pancreatic Cancer

Certain factors may increase your risk for pancreatic cancer, including:

  • Family history of pancreatic or related cancers.
  • Smoking.
  • Obesity.
  • Chronic pancreatitis.
  • Diabetes.

Our team can help assess your risk and, if appropriate, discuss screening or genetic counseling.

Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer

Symptoms vary from person to person. You may notice:

  • Abdominal or back pain.
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Nausea or digestive changes.
  • New-onset diabetes or worsening blood sugar control.

Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer

If your doctor suspects that you have pancreatic cancer, they may run tests to determine the stage of cancer to develop the best treatment plan. These tests include:

  • Imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI or endoscopic ultrasound.
  • Biopsy to examine tissue samples.
  • Blood tests.
  • Genetic testing when appropriate.

We guide you through each step, clearly explaining results and next steps.

National Pancreas Foundation Centers of Excellence

We are proud to be recognized as a Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence by the National Pancreas Foundation, a distinction that reflects our commitment to high-quality, multidisciplinary care and improved outcomes for patients and families.

Make an appointment

For more information, please contact your oncologist or the Cancer Care Center at (859) 301-4000.

Treating Pancreatic Cancer

At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we believe in caring for you, not just treating your cancer. Our holistic approach means we combine cancer treatment with working to minimize side effects and help you manage them. Our goal is to make you as comfortable as possible while we use innovative approaches to treat your cancer. Depending on the stage of your cancer and whether it has spread, your treatment may include:

  • Surgery — A procedure to remove cancer and surrounding lymph nodes while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. For tumors in the head of the pancreas, this may involve a pancreaticoduodenectomy. For tumors in the body and tail, surgery may include a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy.

      • St. Elizabeth Healthcare is a high-volume center with perioperative outcomes that meet or exceed national benchmarks. In addition to traditional open surgery, we are among a select group of centers nationwide offering robotic assisted, minimally invasive approaches for both pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy, helping support advanced care and recovery.

  • Chemotherapy — Therapy that uses drugs injected through IV, taken by mouth or applied on the skin to attack and kill cancer cells.

  • Radiation therapy — Therapy that uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.
  • Immunotherapy — Medication therapy that stimulates your own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
  • Supportive care — Helping you coordinate appointments and treating the side effects of cancer or treatment.
  • Precision medicine — Uses your DNA and the genetic makeup of your tumor to select treatments that specifically target the cells that cause pancreatic cancer. These therapies are designed to block the pathways cancer cells use to grow and spread.
  • Clinical trials — Provide access to new and innovative treatments, including advanced drug therapies and targeted approaches being developed for pancreatic cancer. Clinical trials give patients the opportunity to receive cutting‑edge care that is not yet available as a standard treatment.

Understanding Surgical Options

Several surgical procedures may be used to treat pancreatic cancer, depending on the location and stage of the disease. The illustrations below provide an overview of the Classic Whipple procedure and Distal Pancreatectomy approaches.

Illustrations from materials available through The National Pancreas Foundation: Animated Pancreas Patient.

Preventing Pancreatic Cancer

Lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer include:

  • Avoid smoking — Smoking is linked to many cancers, including cancers of the pancreas.

  • Decrease alcohol consumption — Heavy alcohol use is associated with cancers of the pancreas.

  • Eat a healthy diet — A diet rich in fiber, fruits, green vegetables, and whole grains can lower your risk of digestive cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
  • Maintain a healthy weight — Obesity is a risk factor in many cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
  • Manage chronic conditions — Conditions such as diabetes and chronic pancreatitis can affect your pancreatic health. Working closely with your provider to manage these conditions can help lower your risk.

Patient Testimonials

Doug Doty

Doug Doty

Staying active and positive — and seeking care from the exceptional cancer care team at St. Elizabeth Healthcare — helped Doug Doty overcome a recent pancreatic cancer diagnosis to return to the hobbies he loves.

Angela Graham

Angela Graham

Angela Graham felt fine, but her bloodwork found unusually high levels of pancreatic enzymes. That discovery led to an unexpected cancer diagnosis, followed by a lifesaving, multi-step treatment from a comprehensive team of St. Elizabeth providers.

Thomas Hopkins

Thomas Hopkins

Like many, Tom Hopkins put off going to the doctor. When his symptoms finally forced him into the emergency department, he learned he had pancreatic cancer. His year-long cancer battle wasn’t easy. But with support from a multi-disciplinary team at St. Elizabeth and his family, Tom is back to living the life he loves.

Tim Mefford

Tim Mefford

Faith, family and access to a phenomenal care team close to home helped make Tim Mefford’s cancer journey feel less isolating. Read why he’s grateful he sought treatment at St. Elizabeth.

Your Cancer Care Team

The team includes medical oncologists specializing in immunotherapy and precision medicine, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, pain management specialists, genetic counselors, pathologists, nutritionists, pharmacists, nurses and support staff. They work together to create a treatment plan that’s just right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma begins in the ducts that carry digestive juices. It is the most common type of pancreatic cancer and often grows more quickly. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) begin in hormone-producing cells and usually grow more slowly. Knowing which type you have helps your doctors recommend the treatment that’s best for your diagnosis.
The pancreas sits deep inside your abdomen, so a small, early tumor usually doesn’t press on anything that would cause pain or other warning signs. That means you might not notice symptoms until the tumor has grown large enough to affect nearby organs. This is why it’s worth telling your doctor about any new or ongoing symptoms. If you notice symptoms that don’t go away or concern you, talk with your doctor. They can determine whether you need additional testing.
Recovery is different for everyone. Most people spend several days in the hospital before continuing their recovery at home. It may take several more weeks before you’re back to your usual routine. You may need to take pancreatic enzyme supplements. These medicines help your body digest food, since surgery can affect how well your digestive system works on its own. If you have a minimally invasive or robot-assisted procedure, you may heal faster than with traditional open surgery.
Whether you’re a candidate depends on several factors, including the size and location of your tumor, if nearby blood vessels are involved and your overall health. Your surgical team will review your scans and overall health to see if this less invasive option is safe and appropriate for your case. Not everyone qualifies. This is why a thorough evaluation with an experienced pancreatic surgery team is such an important first step.

Many people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are encouraged to have genetic testing, even if they don’t have a family history of cancer. Genetic testing for pancreatic cancer looks for inherited gene changes, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, that may have increased your risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The results can help your care team determine whether targeted treatments or clinical trials may be appropriate for you. If you have a genetic mutation, your family members may choose to talk with a doctor or genetic counselor about whether testing or earlier screening is right for them.

Yes. Pancreatic surgery isn’t the right option for everyone, but there are still effective ways to treat pancreatic cancer. Depending on the type of pancreatic cancer and its genetic features, your care team may recommend chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted treatment, immunotherapy or a clinical trial. Your doctors will build a treatment plan based on your cancer and your overall health — not just whether surgery is possible.

Neoadjuvant therapy is chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation, given before surgery. It can shrink the tumor, make it easier to remove and treat any cancer cells that may have already spread beyond the pancreas. Adjuvant therapy is given after surgery to lower the chance of the cancer returning. In general, doctors recommend about six months of systemic therapy, although how much you receive before and after surgery may vary based on personal factors, tumor characteristics and your response to treatment.

Yes. St. Elizabeth offers clinical trials for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, including studies looking at new treatments that target KRAS, a gene mutation found in many pancreatic tumors. Clinical trials can give you access to promising treatments not yet widely available, and every trial is closely monitored for safety. Your oncologist can tell you whether a trial is a good fit based on your tumor’s genetic makeup and your overall health.

It’s common to seek a second opinion after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, especially if you’re considering surgery. A second opinion can confirm your diagnosis, help you understand your treatment options and give you confidence in your care plan. Even if another doctor recommends the same treatment, many patients find that the additional perspective provides peace of mind.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Call Your Primary Care Provider

Talk to your primary care physician about when you should have your cancer screenings. Call (800) 737-7900.

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