Spotlight
Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer Care
The National Pancreas Foundation has designated Rush University Medical Center as a National Center of Excellence for Pancreatic Cancer.
Pancreatic cancer starts in the pancreas, a large organ that plays an important role in turning food into energy. The pancreas makes insulin (a hormone that controls blood sugar) and enzymes (chemicals that break down food).
Many people with pancreatic cancer don’t have any symptoms before their diagnosis. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
- Weight loss with no apparent cause
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
Pancreatic cancer is often suspected when blood tests point to something wrong with the pancreas. From there, imaging tests are used to look inside the body without making any cuts. This may include an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI. CT scans and MRIs help doctors figure out how big the tumor is and where it may have spread.
Endoscopic ultrasound is an important tool for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. This imaging tool uses a long tube (scope). The scope is used inside the digestive tract where it can take ultrasound photos as well as take a sample of tissue. This procedure is called a biopsy. This tissue sample is sent for testing to see if it’s cancer.
Meet our pancreatic cancer care doctors and specialists
What are the treatment options for pancreatic cancer at RUSH MD Anderson?
An important part of treating pancreatic cancer is chemotherapy. Pancreatic cancer can grow and spread quickly, but chemotherapy goes throughout the body to remove any cancer cells that have escaped the primary tumor location.
We offer chemo at RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center at Rush University Medical Center and several other locations in the Chicago area. We’ll work with you to find the most convenient location for you to get the care you need.
Many people with pancreatic cancer need surgery. Depending on how big the tumor is and if it has spread, surgeons may be able to remove all or part of the tumor. There are two common surgeries for pancreatic cancer:
- The Whipple procedure, in which the head of the pancreas, gallbladder, part of the bile duct and part of the small intestine are removed. At RUSH MD Anderson, our surgeons perform more than 90 Whipple procedures a year. Our pancreatic cancer specialists are experienced in this complex surgery.
- Distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy, in which the body and tail of the pancreas (the left side of the organ) are removed, as well as the spleen.
Rarely, your entire pancreas may need to be removed.
Our surgeons are experts in pancreatic cancer surgery. After the procedure, imaging tests and biopsies check for microscopic signs of cancer that may have been left behind. Our goal is always to completely remove all cancer cells.
After chemotherapy and surgery, doctors keep a close eye on patients to make sure we quickly catch any cancer that comes back. Regular scans (either at RUSH MD Anderson or your local oncologist) are an important part of recovery from pancreatic cancer.
How does RUSH MD Anderson personalize pancreatic cancer treatment plans?
Everyone with pancreatic cancer wants the best possible chance at recovery — and that starts with a personalized treatment plan. We will see you quickly, because we know that time to treatment matters. We will take a close look at your tumor, its location and size, as well as your bloodwork, and make a treatment plan that fits your needs.
Getting a Second Opinion from RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center
Have you been diagnosed with cancer? Consider a second opinion from RUSH MD Anderson. A second opinion can help you explore all your options and begin treatment with confidence and clarity.
RUSH MD Anderson offers easy access to second opinions, including free virtual intake visits with our knowledgeable nurse navigators for anyone in Illinois.
Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
- Nationally ranked cancer care: U.S. News & World Report has ranked Rush University Medical Center among the best in the nation for cancer care.
- Designated center of excellence: Rush University Medical Center is a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence for pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis. This designation recognizes Rush's multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatic cancer, treating you with a focus on best outcomes and improved quality of life. Rush is the first health system in Illinois to earn this designation.
- Advanced diagnostics: Getting a quick, accurate diagnosis is crucial. Our expert team specializes in staging studies, including axial imaging and diagnostic modalities including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) — all of which can diagnose pancreatic cancer and guide stage-appropriate treatments for your unique needs.
- Surgical expertise: Often, surgery is your best option for long-term survival for pancreatic cancer. We can help determine if surgery is right for your cancer. Our surgical oncologists are among the most experienced in the nation, performing complex pancreas surgery including robotic surgery.
- Clinical trials: As one of the leading academic health systems in the country, RUSH MD Anderson clinicians are also researchers who are looking at new ways to effectively treat pancreatic cancer. That means eligible patients have access to clinical trials and treatments that are not widely available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pancreatic Cancer
For the Whipple procedure, you will probably be in the hospital for five to 10 days. For a distal pancreatectomy, you will be in the hospital for up to seven days. For both procedures, we want to build strength and get you moving quickly after surgery. We work with physical and occupational therapy to make sure you have a strong start to recovery.
Full recovery from pancreatic cancer surgery can take up to eight weeks.
Yes. Our partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston allows us to offer enrollment in select clinical trials for eligible patients with pancreatic cancer. Your care team will help determine whether a clinical trial is right for you.
Survival rates for pancreatic cancer depend on how much the cancer has spread, tumor markers and other factors. Cancer that has stayed in and around the pancreas has a higher survival rate than cancer that has spread to surrounding blood vessels or organs.
The most common type of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This cancer grows in the cells of the tubes that carry digestive enzymes out of the pancreas.
A much less common form of cancer is endocrine pancreatic cancer. This type grows in the cells that make hormones.
All cancers are divided into stages based on how much the cancer has spread. The American Cancer Society outlines the complex staging system used to detail how far pancreatic cancer has spread.
When treating pancreatic cancer, there are three main groupings of pancreatic cancer you should know:
- Resectable. This type of cancer can be removed (resected) with surgery.
- Borderline resectable. After chemotherapy and radiation shrinks the size of the tumor, surgeons may be able to completely remove this cancer.
- Unresectable. These tumors cannot be entirely removed with surgery. Some unresectable cancers are locally advanced (has locally spread to nearby organs and blood vessels). Unresectable metastatic cancer has spread to distant organs. Unresectable cancer can sometimes still be partially removed, but the treatment goal is to relieve symptoms rather than cure the cancer.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center among the best in the nation for cancer care.
