Chemotherapy and Pancreatic Cancer

However, present doctors in order to find out whether pancreatic cancer chemotherapy is beneficial may suggest his patients to take a clinical trial. This is done in order to find if the new drugs used in chemotherapy are beneficial for the patients. The most recently held trial was known as GEMCAP. In this trial a combination of capecitabine and gemicitabine was given to patients. The results of the combination of these medicines showed that it was possible to
control the tumor for longer period in majority of the patients.

Combining pancreatic cancer Chemotherapy with surgery

Present doctors combine pancreatic cancer chemotherapy along with surgery to get the best results. If the doctors are unable to remove all the cancers by surgery, chemotherapy helps to shrink the left over cancer. In such cases chemotherapy also lowers the risk of the reoccurrence of the cancer. This kind of chemotherapy is known as adjuvant chemotherapy. A trial known as ESPAC-1 has shown that if chemotherapy done after surgery reduces the chances of the reoccurrence of the cancer. Another trial known as ESPAC-3 is trying to find out more benefits of chemotherapy when done after surgery. They are trying to find out the best medicine by comparing folinic acid and 5FU with gemcitabine.

Present doctors also suggest neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This kind of pancreatic cancer chemotherapy is done prior to the surgery. This chemotherapy is done prior to the surgery in order to shrink the cancer. Neo adjuvant chemotherapy results in less surgery. This provides greater chances of total removal of the cancer.

Combining pancreatic cancer chemotherapy with radiotherapy

Present doctors combine pancreatic cancer chemotherapy along with radiotherapy to treat 1, 2 or 3 stage of pancreatic cancer. This treatment is considered to be a part of the clinical trial. Doctors have found that the combination of chemotherapy and radio therapy helps in better treatment of pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy is often used by doctors after surgery.
This is because this treatment helps in reducing the chances of the reoccurrence of the pancreatic cancer. Reports have also shown that the use of chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy has helped in complete removal of the pancreatic cancer.

Drugs used in pancreatic cancer chemotherapy

The most common drugs used for pancreatic cancer chemotherapy include 5-fluouracil, capecitabine, and gemicitabine. Pancreatic cancer chemotherapy is generally considered to be a single agent treatment. This means that only one type of drug is used in this method of treatment. Reports have shown that a single chemotherapy drug is as effective as that of a combination of different kind of drugs. However, combination of drugs is also used in chemotherapy process. The medicine 5 FU is injected into the vein through a drip. Generally, folinic acid, a vitamin is prescribed along with 5FU as it helps in better working of 5 FU.

Another medicine of pancreatic cancer chemotherapy is capecitabine. This medicine is the tablet form of 5-FU medicines. Capecitabine is often used in combination of another medicine called gemicitabine. Gemicitabine is a liquid medicine which is injected into the vein through a drip.