Speak to our specialist nurses
If you have questions about chemotherapy or other treatments for inoperable pancreatic cancer, you can speak to our specialist nurses on our free Support Line.
Chemotherapy for inoperable pancreatic cancer
If it’s not possible to remove the cancer with surgery (inoperable cancer), you may be offered chemotherapy to help control the cancer. It can also help with your symptoms, and help you to feel better.
Locally advanced pancreatic cancer
Locally advanced pancreatic cancer is cancer that has spread to the large blood vessels near the pancreas, or to a number of lymph nodes. It’s not usually possible to remove the cancer with surgery.
You should be offered chemotherapy, and sometimes chemoradiotherapy. This may shrink the cancer and slow down its growth. It can also help with any symptoms and help you feel better. For a small number of people, this treatment may shrink the cancer enough to make surgery possible.
You may be offered FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine with capecitabine (GemCap). If you are not well enough to deal with the possible side effects of these treatments, your oncologist should consider gemcitabine on its own.
You will have scans before, during and at the end of your treatment to see how the chemotherapy is working.
Advanced pancreatic cancer
Advanced (metastatic) pancreatic cancer is cancer that has spread from the pancreas to other parts of the body. Surgery to remove the cancer won’t be possible.
Chemotherapy may help to control the cancer and help with symptoms. It won’t cure the cancer but it may help you live longer and generally feel better.
You will need to be well enough for chemotherapy. You will have a scan every three months to see how well the chemotherapy is working and how it’s affecting you.
- You may be offered FOLFIRINOX if your doctor thinks you are well enough to deal with the possible side effects.
- Or you may be offered gemcitabine together with nab-paclitaxel.
- (If you aren’t able to have these treatments, your doctor may consider gemcitabine with capecitabine (GemCap).
- If you aren’t well enough for a combination of chemotherapy drugs, you may be offered gemcitabine on its own.
Speak to your chemotherapy team about which treatment may be best for you.
You might be able to have chemotherapy as part of a clinical trial. Ask your oncologist if there are any trials that might be suitable for you.
Speak to our nurses
Updated April 2022
Review date April 2024