The diagnosis of any life-threatening illness is unsettling. And, pancreatic cancer is no different. In fact, since generally there are no noticeable symptoms, pancreatic cancer might be detected only in the end, in stage 4, when it becomes metastatic and starts to spread and affect other organs in the body. Taking the time and effort to acquire correct and detailed information on the various multimodality treatments available for metastatic pancreatic cancer is the first step in addressing the disease.

Gastrointestinal procedures that enable doctors to clearly access the pancreas that is concealed behind other organs to enable them to carry out the precise treatment on it, place fiducial markers to target cancerous tumors singularly without affecting healthy cells, arranging stents, and basically attending to the maladies in the digestive system, along with chemotherapy and radiation therapy that are coupled as a treatment, or surgery like Pancreatectomy if the pancreatic tumor can be entirely removed, are some treatment options for advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer. Interventional radiology procedures that involve minimal damage of body tissue and targeted therapy that specifically focuses on the particular environment that contributes to the growth and survival of pancreatic cancer in an individual are other alternatives being increasingly used to treat metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Complete removal of pancreatic cancer might not be possible sometimes, but curbing the disease to the best possible extent, and prescribing medications to mitigate side effects like diabetes and chronic pain and helping patients cope with all the other symptoms of pancreatic cancer, to enable them to live an alleviated life can be attempted. The advice of a trusted doctor is extremely crucial to identify the correct course of treatment or combination of treatments paced appropriately to suit each individual afflicted with advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer. Palliative care is important for a good quality of life, for both the care seeker and caregiver. Take an informed decision.