Chemotherapy

Pancreatic cancer chemotherapy is used by doctors to treat pancreatic cancer. The pancreas present in our body produces insulin that helps to regulate the blood sugar level of the body. Besides, pancreatic juices produced by the pancreas helps in digestion. However, pancreatic cancer is caused due to the abnormal growth of cells in the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer like other types of cancers is a life threatening disease. The treatment of pancreatic cancer depends on the stage and size of the cancer and also on the condition of the patient. Apart from chemotherapy this cancer is also treated by radiation and surgery. Present doctors combine chemotherapy with other means of treatment to get the best result.

Pancreatic cancer chemotherapy helps to relieve symptoms of pancreatic cancer
Doctors always prescribe pancreatic cancer chemotherapy to a person suffering from acute pancreatic cancer. Though chemotherapy is not able to cure acute cancer, but it helps in shrinking the cancer. This provides the patient some relief from the symptoms of the cancer. Chemotherapy also helps to decelerate the growth of acute pancreatic cancer. It may help the patient to feel better and live long. However, it may not be beneficial to all patients. A patient should consult his doctor prior to starting pancreatic cancer chemotherapy. A person after taking chemotherapy treatment feels that it is not beneficial can always stop it.

However, present doctors in order to find out whether pancreatic cancer chemotherapy is beneficial may suggest his patients to take a clinical trial. This is done in order to find if the new drugs used in chemotherapy are beneficial for the patients. The most recently held trial was known as GEMCAP. In this trial a combination of capecitabine and gemicitabine was given to patients. The results of the combination of these medicines showed that it was possible to control the tumor for longer period in majority of the patients.

Combining pancreatic cancer Chemotherapy with surgery
Present doctors combine pancreatic cancer chemotherapy along with surgery to get the best results. If the doctors are unable to remove all the cancers by surgery, chemotherapy helps to shrink the left over cancer. In such cases chemotherapy also lowers the risk of the reoccurrence of the cancer. This kind of chemotherapy is known as adjuvant chemotherapy. A trial known as ESPAC-1 has shown that if chemotherapy done after surgery reduces the chances of the reoccurrence of the cancer. Another trial known as ESPAC-3 is trying to find out more benefits of chemotherapy when done after surgery. They are trying to find out the best medicine by comparing folinic acid and 5FU with gemcitabine.

Present doctors also suggest neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This kind of pancreatic cancer chemotherapy is done prior to the surgery. This chemotherapy is done prior to the surgery in order to shrink the cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy results in less surgery. This provides greater chances of total removal of the cancer.

Combining pancreatic cancer chemotherapy with radiotherapy
Present doctors combine pancreatic cancer chemotherapy along with radiotherapy to treat 1, 2 or 3 stage of pancreatic cancer. This treatment is considered to be a part of the clinical trial. Doctors have found that the combination of chemotherapy and radio therapy helps in better treatment of pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy is often used by doctors after surgery. This is because this treatment helps in reducing the chances of the reoccurrence of the pancreatic cancer. Reports have also shown that the use of chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy has helped in complete removal of the pancreatic cancer.

Drugs used in pancreatic cancer chemotherapy
The most common drugs used for pancreatic cancer chemotherapy include 5-fluouracil, capecitabine, and gemicitabine. Pancreatic cancer chemotherapy is generally considered to be a single agent treatment. This means that only one type of drug is used in this method of treatment. Reports have shown that a single chemotherapy drug is as effective as that of a combination of different kind of drugs. However, combination of drugs is also used in chemotherapy process. The medicine 5 FU is injected into the vein through a drip. Generally, folinic acid, a vitamin is prescribed along with 5FU as it helps in better working of 5 FU.

Another medicine of pancreatic cancer chemotherapy is capecitabine. This medicine is the tablet form of 5-FU medicines. Capecitabine is often used in combination of another medicine called gemicitabine. Gemicitabine is a liquid medicine which is injected into the vein through a drip.

Side effects of pancreatic cancer chemotherapy
The drugs used in pancreatic cancer chemotherapy results in many side effects. Some of common side effects of the 5-FU drug are diarrhea, thinning of hair, ulcers in the mouth, hair loss, and an increase in risk of infection. The capecitabine drug shows similar side effects as that of 5-FU medicine. The side effects caused by gemicitabine drug include feeling sick, increase in weight due to retention of fluid, swelling of the legs or feet and an increase in risk of infection. The side effect of this medicine also includes symptoms of flue like headache, temperature, aching chills, etc. However, the side effect of the gemicitabine is considered to be mild.

Supplements to be taken along with pancreatic cancer chemotherapy
People suffering from pancreatic cancer often opt for herbal medicines and dietary supplements along with pancreatic cancer chemotherapy. However, the doctors are not sure about the reliability of these supplements. They do not know what supplements the patients are buying from the different therapy practioneers. Doctors are concerned about how the supplements may react with the chemotherapy. It is always advised o consult with the doctor prior to taking any supplements. This is because the supplements may react with the chemotherapy and create more complications. Some doctors advise their patients not to take any supplements that are available in the market and claim to boost the immune system.