If you have just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you may be wondering what to do and where to turn.
At Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, we are experts in treating pancreatic cancer. We help hundreds of patients with pancreatic cancer each year, and we’re ready to help you, too. We’ll find the treatment approach that’s right for you and work to achieve the best possible long-term outcome.
About Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is an organ located in the upper part of the belly just behind the stomach. The first part of the small intestine and the spleen surround it.
The pancreas is small, but it has a large role in the body. It releases hormones, like insulin, that help control your blood sugar. It also makes proteins called enzymes that help you digest your food.
Pancreatic cancer happens when cells in the pancreas have a genetic change and begin to grow and multiply out of control. Over time, the abnormal cells can form lumps called tumors. These tumors cause symptoms such as pain, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), losing weight, and not feeling hungry.
Why Choose Siteman
Top 5 in the U.S.
Siteman is one of the top five high-volume pancreatic treatment centers in the U.S. “High-volume” means that we see a significant number of patients with pancreatic cancer every year. Pancreatic cancer patients who come to high-volume centers often have the best outcomes.
Holistic, Expert Care
At Siteman, you face your care with experts by your side. When you come here, a team of WashU Medicine physicians will work together to make a treatment plan just for you. This team-based approach is called “multidisciplinary care.” It is the best way to treat pancreatic cancer. You’ll also benefit from the support of nutritionists, psychologists, and experienced cancer nurses who will meet your needs at each step of your cancer treatment.
Minimally-invasive, robotic surgeries
Surgery for pancreatic cancer is complex. WashU Medicine physicians at Siteman have developed methods that make pancreatic surgery safer for all patients in our care. Our surgical team is one of the most experienced in the country, performing more than 150 pancreatic surgeries every year. We’ve also developed enhanced recovery protocols for our patients. These protocols guide them through the important period after surgery. This means our patients will heal better and faster.
Ground-breaking radiation therapy
Sometimes, it’s not possible to remove a pancreatic tumor surgically. But patients who can’t have surgery still have options at Siteman. When done precisely, radiation therapy can slow and even stop pancreatic tumor growth.
We are global leaders in radiation therapy. Siteman is one of the only centers in the world that can provide the newest, most advanced radiation techniques. We pair these technologies with our highly-experienced team of physicians and technicians. This means our patients can often return to their normal lives.
High-Risk Clinic for Pancreatic Cancer
Some patients come to Siteman to prevent pancreatic cancer. Risk factors like family history or having a pancreatic cyst mean you can join the Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance Program. This specialized program offers regular testing and close monitoring. Also, we can effectively treat existing cysts to prevent them from becoming precancerous or turning into cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is easier to treat if it is caught early, before the cancer has grown and spread. Patients whose cancer is found at an earlier stage tend to have better outcomes. That’s why Siteman Cancer Center has launched a special clinic for patients at an especially high risk of pancreatic cancer. Our goal is to stop pancreatic cancer before it even starts.
Patients who come to our clinic have two major risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
- Family history: They have one or more close relatives who have been diagnosed with the disease (hereditary).
- Personal health history: They have been diagnosed with a pancreatic cyst.
Pancreatic cysts are lumps filled with fluid that start in the pancreas. Most pancreatic cysts are benign (not cancer). They’re not likely to harm you or cause symptoms. But some are precancerous and can turn into pancreatic cancer.
Siteman Cancer Center’s Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance Program diagnoses and treats pancreatic cysts, even though these cysts are not cancer. Watching them carefully over time can help prevent cancer in the future.
What does “Watchful Waiting” look like at Siteman?
High-risk patients who enroll in our program will receive regular scans to see if their cysts are growing. They may also have opportunities to enroll in clinical trials testing immunotherapies for very early-stage pancreatic cancers.
Clinical Trials Grounded in Scientific Discoveries
Every cancer treatment used today was tested in a clinical trial first. Clinical trials are research studies that examine new treatments and therapies. Siteman offers more clinical trials than any other center in the region. Many of our trials are grounded in discoveries made by WashU Medicine physicians and researchers. This means that, when you come to Siteman, the newest scientific insights will guide your care.
Start Here. Get the Care You Need.Our Siteman care coordinators – oncology-trained nurses who help with scheduling, finding the right specialist, and guidance – can help you through the process.
Call us directly or submit a form, and we will call you back.
