Clinical Trials
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center offers patients access to the latest advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment through cancer clinical trials
Find clinical trials for pancreatic cancer.UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is part of the UPMC family.
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For many types and stages of pancreatic cancer, surgery is the treatment of choice.
There are several different surgeries used to treat pancreatic cancer. The most common at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is the pancreatoduodenectomy, also known as the Whipple procedure.
The open Whipple removes the head of the pancreas, where tumors are most common. Surgeons also remove the gallbladder, bile duct, parts of the intestine, and sometimes a portion of the stomach.
The surgery requires a large incision and a hospital stay of 7-10 days after.
UPMC surgeons also perform the robotic Whipple, a less invasive surgery. Benefits of the robotic Whipple include:
UPMC is one of only a handful of hospitals in the United States to offer the robotic Whipple. Our experts pioneered this procedure and perform more robotic Whipples than anyone else in the country.
Doctors recommend surgery for patients with pancreatic cancer when imaging tests show the cancer can be completely removed surgically. Doctors generally consider tumors removable if they have not spread beyond the pancreas and do not involve major arteries.
Palliative surgery can relieve symptoms or prevent complications if surgery can’t fully remove the tumor.
Doctors often mix surgery with other treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.
The goal of surgical treatment for this disease depends on the likelihood of removing the tumor.
Imaging tests can't always predict exactly what the surgeon will encounter. He or she may need to switch from curative to palliative surgery based on the situation at hand.
Surgery is often just one part of a complete treatment plan that may also include radiation and medical oncology.
The surgical oncologists at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center are experts in a range of advanced pancreatic cancer surgery techniques.
Minimally invasive and robotic surgical methods — including the robotically assisted Whipple procedure — reduce risks and healing times.
Almost 80 percent of pancreatic cancer patients at UPMC who are surgical candidates have the Whipple procedure. And up to 85 percent of patients slated for the Whipple are candidates for the robotic option.
UPMC is one of only a handful of hospitals in the United States to offer the robotic Whipple method and has more experience than any hospital in the nation. The American Cancer Society recommends undergoing a Whipple at a hospital that performs at least 15 of these surgeries each year; in 2018, UPMC’s surgeons performed more than 60.
Your care team and surgeon will:
You will also make decisions together about adding radiation or medical oncology to your treatment plan either before or after surgery.
Your pancreatic cancer surgery will depend on the type of procedure. Surgeons also consider other factors like your response to the procedure and your overall health.
Studies show when experienced surgeons perform the procedure, patients usually have fewer complications and better outcomes.
Recovery times vary. The open Whipple requires a longer hospital stay of 7-10 days after surgery, while the robotic Whipple has a faster recovery time.
You will likely experience side effects from your surgery. You may see changes in your digestive system that cause side effects like diarrhea, gas, or stomach pain.
Pancreatic cancer surgery carries potential short-term and long-term side effects, including:
Because of the difficulties of pancreatic cancer, it is possible that a surgeon can’t fully remove the cancer. The surgeon then will shift to a palliative procedure. The cancer also may not go away completely, or it may spread to another part of the body. This makes follow-up appointments important.
Contact UPMC Hillman Cancer Center about pancreatic cancer care at 412-647-2811.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center offers patients access to the latest advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment through cancer clinical trials
Find clinical trials for pancreatic cancer.