Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays (or particles) to kill cancer cells.

External beam radiation therapy is the type of radiation therapy most often used in treating cancers of the pancreas. This treatment involves focusing the radiation on the cancer from a machine outside the body. Having this type of radiation therapy is like having an x-ray, except that each treatment lasts longer, and the patient usually receives 5 treatments per week over a period of weeks or months.

Patients may receive preoperative (before surgery) or postoperative (after surgery) treatment. If surgery is planned, preoperative treatment is often preferred because postoperative treatment often has to be delayed for several weeks while the patient recovers from surgery (treatment right after surgery can interfere with wound healing).

Radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy (called chemoradiation) may be used in patients whose tumors are too widespread to be removed by surgery.

Side effects of radiation therapy may include mild skin changes resembling sunburn or suntan, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Patients usually lose their appetite and have trouble keeping up their weight. Usually these effects go away a few weeks after the treatment is complete. Radiation therapy may make the side effects of chemotherapy worse. Please be sure to talk with your doctor about these side effects and ways to prevent or relieve them.

Last Medical Review: 10/13/2009
Last Revised: 10/13/2009