New Hope for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

The nature of pancreatic cancer, combined with the organ's location and proximity to other sensitive tissues, can make adenocarcinoma and other pancreas cancers challenging to treat. In most cases, surgery is the first method of treatment to be explored. However, in patients whose cancer may not be confined to the pancreas, proton therapy can be helpful in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Sometimes referred to as pancreas cancer, pancreatic cancer may be treated with a combination of surgery and proton therapy.

If it's not possible to completely remove the adenocarcinoma with surgery, the chance of successful pancreatic cancer treatment is very low; however, proton therapy may be used to shrink most pancreas cancers - leading to a longer and more enjoyable life.

The Difference Proton Therapy Makes in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

While some pancreatic cancers can be successfully treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, traditional forms of radiation can sometimes prove problematic. That's because the organs that surround the pancreas – including the small intestine, kidneys, spinal cord and stomach – can't withstand high doses of radiation. Thanks to the highly precise nature of proton radiation therapy, however, cancer-destroying particles can be concentrated at the site of the pancreatic cancer, sparing other healthy organs exposure to radiation, and decreasing the risk of side effects.

And, since higher doses of radiation can be delivered to the pancreas with a lower risk of damage to other organs, the chance of destroying the pancreatic cancer is potentially greater. For more information about the benefits of proton therapy, visit the About Proton Therapy and The Benefits of Proton Therapy sections of our site.

Physicians at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute are using proton therapy to treat both operable and inoperable pancreas cancers in an effort to improve the cure rate for this difficult disease.

If you are interested in pancreatic cancer treatment with proton therapy, and would like to know if you are eligible, contact the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute today.