What is Pancreatic Cancer, and how is it treated? With Eva Galka, M.D.

"So... It's Cancer."

[00:00] Intro and hello

[01:30] Guest - Eva Galka, M.D. FACS: personal background and path to Surgical Oncology.

[07:00] Pancreatic Cancer: typical patient

[13:35] Clinical Presentation: how does someone know they have pancreatic cancer?

[20:30] Referral: how do people show up in my office?

[33:20] What is the pancreas?

[45:00] Epidemiology of pancreatic cancer, and demographics

[48:00] Staging & Resectability

[1:04:00] Chemotherapy

[1:07:00] Breaking therapies & Studies on pancreatic cancer

[1:15:00] Thank you and closing

Key takeaways:

1. Pancreatic cancer (specifically adenocarcinoma of the pancreas) is a fairly common, and very serious diagnosis, worldwide, with three basic categories meaning early (stage 1), late (stage 4), and intermediate (stages 2-3). Different approaches to the disease are based on which of those categories it falls into, and how healthy / able to tolerate treatment the patient may be.

2. Resection is one's only/best chance for cure; however many cases are beyond respectability at diagnosis; and some are questionably resectable (borderline or locally advanced) and require upfront treatment before any attempt at resection. Even after resection it can come back, so extra treatments such as chemotherapy is almost always recommended.

3. Pancreas located in center of upper abdomen, surrounded by important other organs and blood vessels, making resection of tumors from it a very complex and technically demanding procedure, with significant risks of complications, even --not often but sometimes-- death.

4. Chemotherapy and radiation are somewhat effective; frequently necessary, but not AS effective as they can be in some other tumors/cancers..

5. The condition (adenocarcinoma of the pancreas) is best treated in specialized centers by specialized teams.

6. New treatments (such as immunotherapy and tumor vaccines) are being explored; but need to discuss with academic centers if applies to you. If you think you might be interested in being part of a trial, ask your treating physician and also view the show notes links below.