Because cancer of the pancreas is so difficult to control, regular follow-up after the initial course of therapy is very important. In addition to a physical examination and questions about symptoms, you can expect diagnostic tests such as blood, urine, and stool analysis (to check for normal digestion and absorption of nutrients); x-rays (particularly of organs that are vulnerable to spread of pancreatic cancer, such as those in the chest); and CT, ultrasound, or MRI scans. You should never hesitate to let members of your cancer-care team know about pain or any changes or problems that occur after treatment.
Rehabilitation Therapy
Rehabilitation therapy plays a role in improving the function and quality of life of patients with pancreatic cancer. At Memorial Sloan-Kettering, physical therapists work closely with the medical team to improve patients' mobility, strength, and endurance after surgery or medical treatments. They offer patients valuable techniques to increase mobility without increasing pain and discomfort and teach energy-conserving techniques to help patients decrease the fatigue they may experience during hospitalization and medical treatments. Occupational therapists educate patients about the changes they may experience during and after treatment and about adaptive equipment and compensatory techniques that can increase their independence during their daily routines. They also evaluate and treat patients' ability to perform basic daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and moving around their environments.
See the Rehabilitation section of our Web site for further information about our services, including appointment information.
Other Support Services
To help patients manage some of the other issues that may come up following treatment, Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers a wide range of programs, including the following:
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Counseling Center
Our Counseling Center offers individual and family counseling sessions to help cancer patients and their families address the problems that they may encounter in adjusting to life during and after treatment.
Our counselors are also developing new ways to help combat depression, a debilitating illness that strikes an estimated 50 percent of pancreatic patients. One intervention, called meaning-centered psychotherapy, is being evaluated in the individual and group counseling setting for its potential to help patients find purpose and hope in the face of their illness.
We are also investigating the role of cytokines — naturally occurring chemicals involved in inflammation — in the development of depression in pancreatic cancer patients. Results from this study may lead to the use of medications that block cytokine activity, in combination with traditional antidepressants, to better manage depression and fatigue in cancer patients.
Integrative Medicine Service
Our Integrative Medicine Service is designed to enhance quality of life through healing regimens that address the body, mind, and spirit. Beneficial complementary therapies include various types of massage, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, visualization and other mind-body therapies, music therapy, and nutritional counseling, as well as classes such as yoga, t'ai chi, and chair aerobics. Patients may benefit from some of these services in the hospital, while others are better suited to recovering or recovered patients after discharge.
Screening & Wellness
Memorial Sloan-Kettering provides numerous prevention, screening, and wellness services. Information about these services, up-to-date information on cancer screening tests and guidelines, step-by-step instructions for a variety of self-exams, guidance on how to stop smoking, and instruction on how to follow a healthy diet can be found on our Web site in the Prevention & Screening section.
Help for Older Patients
A diagnosis of cancer is difficult at any age, but older patients face unique challenges. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is committed to providing cancer patients aged 65 and older with the treatment, facilities, and support they need.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers the services of a multidisciplinary geriatrics team, which includes physicians, clinical nurse specialists, social workers, nutritionists, and psychiatrists, as well as members of the Pain and Palliative Care Department and the Integrative Medicine Service. The programs and care the team provides focus on the needs of elderly cancer patients.
For more information about our services for older patients as well as for their family and friends, visit the Help for Older Patients section of our Web site.
Access Information Through our Patient Portal
Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers a secure Web site — called MYMSKCC — for patients to access personalized information about their care. If you enroll to use MYMSKCC, you can view, confirm, and keep track of appointments; access over 300 lab results; make changes to contact and insurance information; communicate with your healthcare team and other staff using secure electronic messages; and pay bills and view balances. Learn more about MYMSKCC.
To enroll in MYMSKCC, please ask a session assistant in clinic or contact your physician's office.
