If the tumor has remained confined to the pancreas, surgery may be recommended.

Whether or not surgery is an option is based on the exact location of the cancer.

Whipple procedure:

• Tumors confined to the “head and neck” of the pancreas can be removed with a procedure called the Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy).
• In this procedure, the first part, or the “head” of the pancreas and about 20 percent of the “body,” or the second part, are removed.
• The bottom half of the bile duct and the first part of the intestine are also removed.
• In a modified version of this surgery, a part of the stomach is also removed.

Pancreatic cancer types:

 Two types of pancreatic cancer exist:

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma

• About 95 percent of pancreatic cancers are pancreatic adenocarcinomas.
• This type of pancreatic cancer develops in the exocrine cells of the pancreas.
• The majority of cells in the pancreas are these exocrine cells, which make pancreatic enzymes or make up the pancreatic ducts.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs):

• This less common type of pancreatic cancer develops in the endocrine cells of the pancreas.
• These cells are responsible for making hormones, including the ones that help manage blood sugar.