RECTAL CANCER AND OTHER GASTROINTESTINAL CANCERS
Carcinoma of the Pancreas
The mainstay of treatment for cancers of the pancreas is surgery. Radiation therapy may be used alone for pancreatic cancer or in combination with surgery as well as chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may be given either before or, more commonly, after surgery in the event of close margins or positive nodes to reduce the chance of recurrence in the pancreatic area. In the event that resection of the pancreatic cancer is not feasible, radiation therapy may also be given with chemotherapy to alleviate the symptoms caused by the cancer. Radiation therapy alone, or combined with chemotherapy, is unlikely to permanently eradicate an unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Before any treatment is started, the recommended treatment, the reasons it is recommended, the procedures to be carried out, the expected or possible side effects or complications, and the expected benefits are all explained to the patient and family. The patient must give permission for treatment, based on this knowledge ("informed consent"), before treatment is given.
