Guide To Understanding Pancreatic Cancer Stages

Borderline Resectable Tumors

Some pancreatic cancer patients will have borderline resectable tumors. Doctors consider pancreatic tumors to be borderline resectable when the tumor has grown into a major blood vessel, but they believe it can still be removed and the blood vessel rebuilt. Borderline resectable pancreatic tumors cannot have spread to other parts of the patient’s body. They can be touching the portal vein or superior mesenteric vein, but doctors must be able to rebuild the vein after removing the tumor safely. In addition, these tumors can be near or touching the patient’s hepatic artery, but they must not extend to the celiac axis. Finally, borderline resectable tumors can be near or touch the superior mesenteric artery, but they cannot grow into it.

Locally Advanced Tumors

Locally advanced tumors in pancreatic cancer are often found in Stage 3. They are tumors that have not spread to distant organs in the patient’s body, but surgeons cannot completely remove them with surgery. The reason that they cannot be completely removed is often that the tumor has grown into nearby blood vessels or surrounded them. Surgery to remove locally advanced tumors can be unhelpful and have major side effects. However, some less extensive surgeries may be performed. They are often to prevent or relieve symptoms. Surgeries for these tumors can also deal with issues such as a blocked intestinal tract or bile duct. In most cases, surgery on a locally advanced tumor is not intended to cure the patient’s pancreatic cancer. Other cancer treatments may be examined instead.