Pancreatic Cancer Basics

What is pancreatic cancer? Learn about the types of pancreatic cancer, medication and treatment options, an explanation of procedures, and resources that can help you navigate the disease.

15 Articles

slide of pancreatic cancer near a nerve
Treatments
December 8, 2022 • 4 Min

What Is Pancreatic Cancer?

Learn more about the main different types of pancreatic cancer–adenocarcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Dr. Gobind Anand
Treatments
September 16, 2022 • 4 Min

Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer: Tests to Expect

What can you expect during pancreatic cancer diagnostic testing? Dr. Gobind Anand offers expert guidance to stay informed throughout the process.

Dr. Shubham Pant, oncologist
Treatments
March 23, 2021 • 4 Min

Tumor Staging and Pancreatic Cancer

What is tumor staging and how does it affect treatment? Dr. Shubham Pant helps explain how pancreatic cancer tumors are staged and graded.

Photos of different members of a pancreatic cancer treatment team
Treatments
February 12, 2021 • 4 Min

Drafting Your Health Care Team

If you have pancreatic cancer, a treatment team of experts from across the medical profession will make sure you get the best care.

xWords to know
Treatments
December 21, 2020 • 5 Min

This Versus That: Words to Know

Confused about some of the similar-sounding terms you are hearing during pancreatic cancer treatment? Our list of words to know can help.

word cloud in English and Spanish
Treatments
May 29, 2020 • 5 Min

Eighteen Important Words to Know if You Have Pancreatic Cancer

When you start pancreatic cancer treatment it seems like everyone is speaking a language you don’t know. Here are 18 important words to help you along.

Dr. Allyson Ocean and Dr. Jordan Winter
Treatments
January 20, 2020 • 6 Min

A Second Opinion: Important for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Dr. Allyson Ocean and Dr. Jordan Winter explain why getting a second opinion can be of great benefit for pancreatic cancer patients.

Photo portrait of pathologist Qiu Jinxin
Treatments
September 13, 2019 • 7 Min

Pancreatic Cancer Pathology: How Doctors Get to a Diagnosis

Dr. Jingxin Qiu explains the role of pathology in grading a tumor and staging cancer, to help patients understand the pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

a purple flower in a brown field pancreatic cancer prognosis
Treatments
July 24, 2019 • 7 Min

Prognosis: More Than Numbers in Pancreatic Cancer

What is pancreatic cancer prognosis? Dr. Joshua Lakin of Harvard explains how prognosis works, and ways to possibly defy the odds when facing a slow recovery.

Purple question marks
Treatments
June 27, 2019 • 5 Min

Questions to Ask Before You Begin Chemotherapy

Do you want to better understand your pancreatic cancer treatment? Dr. Andrew Hendifar outlines important questions to ask before starting chemotherapy.

hand holding chemotherapy pills including Xeloda
Treatments
December 26, 2018 • 4 Min

Important Questions When Starting Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Dr. Gauri Varadhachary outlines the important questions to ask when you start treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation for pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Pamela Hodul
Treatments
October 3, 2018 • 5 Min

Living Longer with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Dr. Pamela Hodul walks us through different types of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) and how rare they are along with the latest treatment options.

FAQs on a purple background with an icon showing speech bubbles with question marks and lines for text
Treatments
November 1, 2017 • 5 Min

Frequently Asked Questions About Pancreatic Cancer

Have you or someone you love just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer? Learn some basic facts about this disease from our FAQ.

abstract image of layers of colored wavy shapes, with blobs sticking out in blue, orange, red, shades of tan, brown, and patterns.
Treatments
January 11, 2017 • 5 Min

What To Do When Newly Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer

An oncologist, surgeon, and nurse advocate give their recommendations if you are newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Microscope slide of adenocarcinoma, stained fuschia and purple
Treatments
April 16, 2016 • 5 Min

Why You Need This Simple Blood Test at Diagnosis

An important factor in determining which treatment to use for pancreatic cancer patients is measuring the level of tumor marker CA-19-9. Learn more here.

I have just been diagnosed.

What should I do?

Learn more