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Treatment options for pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer are somewhat limited. Surgical removal of the tumor is a common treatment. Some patients may benefit from chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation and/or hormonal therapy. At this time, there isn’t a standard of care, or standard treatment, for pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. Two targeted therapy drugs, Afinitor® (everolimus) and Sutent® (sunitinib), were recently approved by the U.S. FDA to treat advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and may be beneficial for some patients.

Clinical trials are an option for obtaining treatments that are on the leading edge of medicine. Several therapies are currently being tested for the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in clinical trials.  The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network recommends that all pancreatic cancer patients consider clinical trials when exploring treatment options.

Few risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer are defined. Family history of the disease is one risk factor.  Approximately ten percent of pancreatic cancer cases are hereditary.  There are family registries and early detection studies for people who have a family history of the disease.  

There are several forms of pancreatic cancer.  Adenocarcinoma is the most common form of the disease.  Steve Jobs had a different type of pancreatic cancer, a pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, which accounts for less than 5% of pancreatic cancer diagnoses.

Pancreatic cancer may cause only vague symptoms that could indicate many different conditions within the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include pain (usually abdominal or back pain), weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), loss of appetite, nausea, changes in stool, and diabetes.

Symptoms of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors vary depending on the specific type of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.  They may cause high hormone levels in the blood which may result in symptoms including weight loss, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness and skin rash. Some pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors do not overproduce pancreatic hormones. They are generally detected because of pain or jaundice caused by the large size of the tumor.

Gastroenterologists who are experienced in pancreatic cancer may be able to help with diagnosis and detection.  

At this time, there is no standard early detection or screening tool, such as a blood test.

Pancreatic cancer can affect anyone.  There are some risk factors including a family history of the disease, smoking, age, and diabetes.  

One of the reasons that pancreatic cancer is so  deadly is that it is difficult to diagnose.  Symptoms are vague and most patients are diagnosed at a late stage when the cancer has spread to other organs.  Additionally, few effective treatment options exist.

More research funding is needed so that scientists can better understand the biology of pancreatic cancer, find better treatment options and develop early detection methods.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is leading the way to increase the survival rate for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative—The Vision of Progress: Double the Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate by 2020. Together, we can know, fight and end pancreatic cancer by intensifying our efforts to heighten awareness, raise funds for comprehensive private research, and advocate for dedicated federal research to advance early diagnostics, better treatments and increase chances of survival.

We, along with our Medical & Scientific Advisory Boards and others in the medical community, absolutely believe that this is a realistic goal.  There is exciting, cutting-edge research taking place, there are many clinical trials available that will advance the treatment of this disease, and more people are getting involved in the cause to raise awareness about the urgent need to make progress in this disease.  

There is no standard test to screen for pancreatic cancer.  Studies are underway to find a screening tool.

The five-year survival rate for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the most common form of pancreatic cancer, is only 6%.

The average five-year survival rate for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors is 42%.

Theses two types of pancreatic cancer arise from different types of cells in the pancreas.

Early stage pancreatic cancers may be able to be treated surgically.  Once the cancer has spread, and is no longer operable, pancreatic cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy and/or targeted therapies.

Clinical trials are available for patients with all stages of pancreatic cancer.

Treatment options may vary for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine cancers.

Studies have shown conflicing results on this matter.  More research is needed to determine if alcohol consumption is a true risk factor for the disease.

No.  Randy Pausch suffered from the most common form of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic adenocarcinoma. 

Pancreatic cancer is on the rise, likely due to an aging population.  If nothing is done to impact the upward trend, 5 years from now nearly 200,000 Americans will have been diagnosed with the disease. We must change the course of this disease.