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What are the main types of pancreatic cancer?
Most pancreatic cancer starts in one kind of cell in the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland behind your stomach. It has two main jobs in the body.
Most pancreatic cancer begins in one kind of cell in the pancreas.
The pancreas is a gland behind the stomach that does two main jobs. It makes juices that help break down the food you eat. It also makes hormones that help control blood sugar levels in the body. Most pancreatic cancer begins in the cells that make these digestive juices.
Doctors use several tests to learn more about a pancreatic cancer. These include a physical exam, blood tests, imaging tests, and a biopsy. A biopsy removes a small piece of tissue to study closely.
Several treatment options exist for pancreatic cancer, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Another option is targeted therapy, which uses drugs that attack specific cancer cells. Targeted therapy causes less harm to normal, healthy cells than some other treatments.
Your care team can explain more about the type that was found. They can also talk with you about which treatments may apply.
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This page is educational, not medical advice. Talk with your care team about decisions that apply to you. If something feels urgent, contact your care team — for emergencies call your local emergency number.
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