Pancreas conditions: Expert treatment for cancerous and non-cancerous pancreatic disorders

Diseases of the pancreas are complex and often serious. At UW Health, we have the tools and expertise to treat them.

Pancreas Cancer Program

Pancreatic cancer is scary. We want to do everything possible to prevent it in high risk patients and treat it with the most advanced techniques and technology available. That’s the driving force behind our Pancreas Cancer Program.

Our Pancreas Cancer Program is made up of two distinct clinics. One that focuses on cancer prevention services in high-risk patients, and the other that focuses on providing multi-modal therapy and support for patients that have pancreas masses or cancer.

Learn more about our Pancreas Cancer Prevention Clinic

Your pancreas is a vital organ. It makes enzymes that help with digestion. It also produces hormones, including insulin. You need insulin to turn glucose (sugar) into energy and to keep blood sugar in check.

If surgery is recommended, we are often able to use a minimally invasive technique. These procedures generally lead to shorter hospital stays and fewer complications than open surgeries.

Treatment for cancer of the pancreas 

Treatments for cancer of the pancreas include: 

• Chemotherapy 

• Radiation therapy

  • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy

• Surgery

  • Pancreatic head resection (Whipple procedure)

  • Pancreatic tail resection

  • Total pancreatectomy with auto-islet transplantation

Treatment for benign pancreas conditions 

Depending on your needs, treatment for noncancerous pancreas conditions may include: 

• Gallbladder removal for gallstone-related pancreatitis (cholecystectomy) 

• IV fluids 

• Medication 

• Pancreatic duct drainage 

• Pseudocyst drainage 

• Surgery

  • Pancreatic head resection (Whipple procedure)

  • Pancreatic tail resection

  • Total pancreatectomy with auto-islet transplantation

Pancreas cancer research

We provide patients with access to research studies that evaluate the latest, most promising approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of pancreas cancer. Ongoing research includes the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of pancreas cancer and unique targeting strategies to kill cancer cells before they grow and spread.

The identification of biomarkers that predict the progression of benign lesions like pancreas cysts is also an emphasis, enabling early detection for at-risk patients. All patients that are evaluated and consent to tissue and blood collection benefit from relevant, future research on promising drugs or therapies.

Learn more about clinical trials at UW Health related to pancreas cancer

Some focus on prevention and early detection. That can be vital with pancreatic cancer because the disease is often found in later stages, when it tends to be more challenging to treat. Others focus on treatment.

We have a team of doctors who ensure you get the best care possible. Among them are gastroenterologists, radiologists and cancer specialists. We also have nurses, genetic counselors, nutritionists and social workers. They work together to meet your needs.