Pancreatic Cancer Treatments You Should Know About

When you are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you may find yourself unsure of what you can or should do to deal with the situation. While pancreatic cancer is often a quite serious diagnosis, it does not mean that there aren't any treatment options available to you. On the contrary, researchers and doctors are often looking for new treatments and solutions to the condition. Get to know some of the treatment options available to you when you have pancreatic cancer so you can know what you might be able to expect in your near future. 

NanoKnife Cancer Surgery

One of the many treatment options available to you to help you with your pancreatic cancer is known as the NanoKnife procedure. The NanoKnife surgical procedure is a treatment option that is minimally invasive and can be used on pancreatic cancer that is otherwise unresectable (inoperable). Instead of using traditional surgical methods, the NanoKnife procedure utilizes electrical currents to remove the tumor. 

The procedure uses tiny needles known as electrodes that are inserted around the tumor. Then electrical currents are sent through those electrodes. This electrical current punches tiny holes in the tumor. The holes destabilize the cancer cells, causing those cells to essentially commit suicide, which, in turn, destroys the tumor. 

Because the electrical currents of the NanoKnife cancer surgery are contained between the electrodes, this procedure is quite effective at killing tumors without damaging other surrounding cells and tissues. It also means that tumors surrounded by major blood vessels can be accessed and dealt with when they otherwise would not be. 

Oncolytic Adenovirus Treatment

Another option under research in treating pancreatic cancer is known as oncolytic adenovirus treatment. This cancer treatment harnesses the power of viruses to penetrate cells, even cancer cells. The virus is engineered to target cancer cells and leave normal cells alone. When this happens, the immune system reacts to the presence of the virus in those cancer cells and attacks them. 

Essentially, oncolytic adenovirus treatment works to retrain the immune system to see the cancer cells as a foreign invader. Harnessing the immune system and getting it to work with other treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy to fight cancer cells can be highly effective at helping to reduce the number of cancer cells in the body. Although oncolytic adenovirus treatments are still in the research phases, there may be clinical trials of these and similar treatments that you can take part in to treat your pancreatic cancer. 

Now that you know some of the cutting-edge pancreatic cancer treatments, you can talk to your doctors about what options will best serve you in your fight against pancreatic cancer. Contact a medical facility like ATLAS ONCOLOGY for more information on cancer treatment options.