| Outcome
Chemotherapy and Radiation
Many patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer also
receive chemotherapy and radiation. A limited number of
scientific studies suggest that this may improve survival.
Further studies, including those with new chemotherapy agents,
need to be conducted to assess the effectiveness of these
regimens.
Survival
The ultimate outcome for patients with pancreatic cancer
depends largely on the where treatment is rendered. If the
patient is treated in a high-volume medical center (more than
5 cases per year), survival rate is dramatically higher than
if treatment occurs at a low-volume center. High-volume
medical centers generally have experienced specialists
available to help take care of the patient. In high-volume
centers, more than 96% of pancreatic cancer patients survive
to be discharged from the hospital after surgery.
Approximately 80 to 85% survive to leave the hospital if
treated at a low-volume center. Long-term survival is also
greater among patients treated at high-volume centers.
Ultimately, however, the prognosis is poor for pancreatic
cancer in general. Only 7 to 25% of patients survive past 5
years after diagnosis.
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