There are different types of pancreatic cancer treatment options which are available for patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. Some are standard treatments and some are being tested in clinical trials. There are three types of standard treatment for cancer of the pancreas:

1. Radiation therapy: In this type of pancreatic cancer treatment high energy X-rays or other types of radiation are used to kill cancer cells. The rays are aimed at the tumor and also the tissue around it. Radiation therapy is a local therapy and affects cells only in the treated area. Pancreatic cancer may also be treated in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is used to shrink a large tumor before surgery or destroy cancer cells. In external radiation therapy a machine outside the body is used to send radiation towards the cancer. In internal radiation, radioactive substances are used sealed in needles, seeds, wires and catheters that are placed near the cancer. The radiation therapy is given by considering the type and stage of cancer.

2. Surgery: The different types of surgery for pancreatic cancer treatment are as follows:

a. Whipple procedure: In this surgery the head of the pancreas, the gallbladder, part of the stomach, part of the small intestine and the bile duct are removed. Part of the pancreas is left to produce digestive juices and insulin.

b. Total pancreatectomy: In this type of pancreatic cancer treatment complete pancreas, part of the stomach, part of the small intestine, common bile duct, gallbladder, and the spleen and nearby lymph nodes are removed.

c. Distal pancreatectomy: The body, the tail of the pancreas and the spleen are removed.

If the cancer has spread and cannot be removed then, various palliative surgery options are available:

a. Surgical biliary bypass: Biliary bypass is done when the cancer blocks the small intestine and bile builds up in the gall bladder. The surgeon cuts the gallbladder or bile duct and sews it to the small intestine to create a new pathway around the blocked area.

b. Endoscopic stent placement: In this type of pancreatic cancer treatment surgery is done to put in a stent, a thin tube to drain bile that is built up if the tumor blocks the bile duct. The stent is placed through the catheter that drains outside the body.

c. Gastric bypass: In this type of palliative surgery, the stomach is sewn to the small intestine if the tumor blocks the flow of food from the stomach. This helps the patient to continue eating normally.

3. Chemotherapy: In this type of pancreatic cancer treatment by drugs, the aim is to stop the growth of cancer cells or stop them from dividing. Chemotherapy is either given by mouth i.e., a pill or injected into a vein or a muscle. The drug enters the blood stream and reach cancer cells throughout the body. This is called as systemic chemotherapy. By regional chemotherapy, the drug is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen the drug mainly affects the cancer cells present in those areas.

4. Biological therapy: In this type of treatment of pancreatic cancer, the patient.s immune system is used to fight cancer. This therapy is given by injection into a vein. Pancreatic cancer treatment by biological therapy improves the body.s natural defenses against cancer. The cancer cells in the blood and bone marrow are killed. Special immune cells and proteins are used to stimulate the immune system of the body.