Overview

The disease forms in one of two different types of glands: exocrine (glands that make enzymes to aid digestion) and endocrine (hormone-making glands). Exocrine tumors comprise more than 90 percent of pancreatic cancer cases. The prognosis and treatment of endocrine cancers of the pancreas, also called neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), vary from the more common exocrine cancers because they may have different causes, risk factors, growth characteristics, symptoms, and treatment methods.

In 2021, pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Texas. The survival rates for pancreatic cancer are lower than most forms of cancer, with only 10 percent of patients expected to survive more than five years. The low survival rates can be attributed in part to the lack of symptoms during early stages of the disease and the lack of a reliable screening test.

Benefits of Proton Therapy

• High-energy, precisely-targeted proton beams can deliver high doses of radiation to destroy cancerous cells, reducing recurrence rates for many cancer cases.
• Proton therapy is non-invasive and may reduce side effects.
• Patients treated with proton therapy may have increased tolerance for chemotherapy.
• Patients can maintain their current quality of life during and after treatment.
• It is sometimes used effectively to treat areas that have already been treated with radiation.

Sources: American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and Texas Cancer Registry