BE WELL
PALLIATIVE CARE Palliative care is designed to improve a patient’s quality of life by controlling or alleviating symptoms of their cancer. For pancreatic cancer, some palliative options might include radiation therapy to shrink tumors, nerve-blocking injections to relieve pain, or surgery to place stents or bypass blocked portions of bile ducts or the small intestine.
The next steps following treatment are dependent upon which type of treatment the patient has undergone. Dr. Turner explains, “If a patient has undergone surgery with cure as an intent, they are typically placed into observation with ongoing clinical exams, periodic surveillance imaging, and routine blood work over the course of several years.” If the patient’s disease is more advanced, they might undergo different regimens of chemotherapy or other treatments over time. “Patients with end-stage disease are often of-
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fered hospice to manage the symptoms of pancreatic cancer near end-of-life,” Dr. Turner adds.
Prevention While there is no guaranteed method for preventing pancreatic cancer, there are steps you can take to lower your risk. Dr. Koffron advises that patients closely manage any other pancreatic diseases to reduce their risk of developing pancreatic cancer. “An example of close monitoring is testing for pancreatic cysts,” she says. “Some pancreatic cysts can develop into cancer cells over time, and specialists can often determine which of these are at the highest risk.” Of course, maintaining a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise is good prevention for an endless number of health issues, and pancreatic cancer is no exception. Dr. Philips encourages particular attention to the
foods you consume as a method of prevention. “Avoidance of nitrite-containing processed foods would be ideal. These nitrites become processed into nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens,” he explains. Many people are aware that smoking greatly increases your risk of lung cancer or COPD, but smoking might also increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer. If you smoke, look into quitting to lower your risk. Finally, avoiding workplace exposure to certain carcinogens – cancercausing chemicals – might reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is never a phrase you want to hear. But, you can help reduce your chances of developing it by taking preventative measures. Knowing your risk can make all the difference. HS