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Leading Pancreatic Cancer Care Close to Home.

Pancreatic Cancer

Dedicated pancreatic specialists provide compassionate care.

If you have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you need access to the latest treatments. Novant Health Cancer Institute is nationally recognized for its advanced procedures and treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer. Your team includes expert surgeons who focus only on surgeries of the pancreas and liver, as well as top dedicated oncologists, radiologists and pathologists. We’re here for you.

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Understanding pancreatic cancer

Your pancreas releases enzymes to help digestion and manage blood sugar by producing insulin. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a form of pancreatic cancer that affects the cells lining the ducts that carry enzymes from the pancreas. Early detection is difficult, so pancreatic cancer symptoms may not appear until the disease has progressed.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Yellowing of the skin
Change in stool or urine color
Itchy skin
Fatigue
Worsening diabetes

Diagnosing pancreatic cancer may include X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scan imaging and surgical biopsies.

Pancreatic Cancer Treatments

Your cancer treatment plan will be based on the extent of the cancer. Your treatment will typically start with surgery and may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these.

Surgical Solutions

Surgery is often the first step of your treatment plan for pancreatic cancer. Novant Health Cancer Institute has some of the only dedicated surgeons in the state offering the complex surgery needed to give you the highest level of care.

Whipple Procedure

The Whipple procedure, also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy, is an advanced surgical procedure that involves removing the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct. Our dedicated pancreatic surgeons regularly perform the Whipple procedure, offering you expert care close to home.

Laparoscopic Pancreatic Surgery

A laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical option that allows the surgeon to access the pancreas through the abdomen and pelvis without a large incision. This procedure removes tumors in the body or tail of the pancreas. And because the incision is small, recovery is typically quicker and less painful.

Chemotherapy

Radiation Therapy

With many advanced radiation therapy techniques available at Novant Health Cancer Institute, your treatment will be tailored to your specific need. Radiation therapy may be used alone or with surgery and/or drug therapy. We use the latest radiation threapy treatments, including stereotactic radiotherapy and Image Guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. These treatments deliver highly focused radiation beams to the tumor from multiple angles to reduce nearby tissue damage and other side effects.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy can help your body's immune system kill cancer cells. Novant Health Cancer Institute uses immunotherapy treatments such as T-cell transfer and immune checkpoint inhibitors to boost your body's natural immune response. Immunotherapy may be used in conjunction with chemotherapy in certain instances.

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Why Choose Novant Health?

Accredited by multiple national organizations, including the Commission on Cancer and the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®), your Novant Health physician is committed to providing excellence in cancer care. You can feel confident that you will be supported throughout your cancer journey by a specialized team of experts focused on your specific needs. We work in state-of-the-art cancer care centers that are among the best in the country.

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Your cancer journey is unique. That’s why our nationally recognized cancer teams work with you to develop a personalized care plan. At Novant Health, you’ll have access to the most current treatment options available only at leading cancer institutes. Your treatment may include clinical research trials or robotics, microsurgeries, new radiation technologies, or cellular and immune therapies. Together, we can treat your cancer, manage your symptoms, and provide you with support at all stages.

Learn About Treatments

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You're not alone on your cancer journey. At Novant Health, rest assured you’ll have all the resources you need to tackle your life-changing diagnosis. Our multidisciplinary, collaborative approach brings together experts with knowledge from different specialties to support you every step of the way. In addition to oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons, your team may include nurse navigators, nutritionists, integrative medicine specialists, genetic counselors, social workers, symptom management and palliative care specialists, and more.

Explore Cancer Resources

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Accredited by Commission on Cancer National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer

Nationally Recognized Care

As leading cancer care providers in North Carolina, Novant Health is recognized nationally for treatments and quality:

Commission on Cancer (CoC)
National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer Accreditation (NAPRC)
Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI)
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program
Southeast Clinical Oncology Research Consortium (SCOR)
Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) accredited for cellular and immunotherapies

Who treats pancreatic cancer?

Medical oncologists

Medical Oncologists are cancer specialists with deep knowledge of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments used to treat your cancer. They work closely with surgical oncologists and radiation oncologists to manage your treatment.

Radiation oncologists

Radiation oncologists are physicians with specialized training in the safe and effective use of ionizing radiation therapy to treat many types of cancers. Your radiation oncologist works closely with you and your care team to help determine the best treatment approach for your unique diagnosis.

Radiologists

Radiologists use imaging scans like CTs and MRIs to help locate and diagnose your cancer.

Surgical oncologists

Surgical oncologists specialize in minimally invasive procedures to remove cancer cells and nearby tissue and lymph nodes.

Gastroenterologists

A gastroenterologist specializes in treating diseases in your digestive system, such as the liver or gallbladder.

Support specialists

At Novant Health Cancer Institute, we take a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to your care and treatment. You may work with a variety of highly trained specialists, including geneticists, nutritionists, pathologists, and palliative and alternative care experts.

You’re Entitled to a Second Opinion.

Are you concerned or confused about a cancer diagnosis or treatment recommendation you've received?

Another perspective on your case and options can give you some peace of mind. Reach out for a virtual session or in-person consultation.

Request a Second Opinion

Experience the Future of Cancer Care, Today.

Together, we can beat cancer. Clinical research studies drive breakthroughs in the prevention, detection and treatment of many cancer conditions.

If eligible to join a clinical trial, you could access new cancer treatments before they’re available to the general public. Explore clinical trials and speak with your cancer team to see if any are right for you.

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