Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive tumour of the pancreas that often causes few early symptoms. Early-stage disease may be cured with major surgery such as the Whipple operation, combined with chemotherapy — making prompt, specialist assessment vital.
| Definition | Malignant tumour of the pancreas |
| Risk factors | Smoking, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes, family history |
| When to see a surgeon | Painless jaundice, weight loss, or a pancreatic mass on a scan |
| Curative option | Surgery (e.g. Whipple) for early-stage disease + chemotherapy |
What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer arises from the cells of the pancreas, an organ deep in the upper abdomen that aids digestion and controls blood sugar. Most tumours occur in the head of the pancreas, where they can block the bile duct. Because the pancreas is deep-seated, tumours can grow before causing symptoms, so expert evaluation of any warning sign is important.
Symptoms & diagnosis
Classic features include painless yellowing of the eyes and skin (obstructive jaundice), unexplained weight loss, upper-abdominal or back pain, and new-onset diabetes. Diagnosis uses CT, MRI/MRCP and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), which also allows a precise needle biopsy; ERCP can relieve jaundice with a stent.
Treatment options
For tumours confined to the pancreas, surgery offers the only chance of cure — most often a Whipple operation (pancreaticoduodenectomy) for head tumours, or distal pancreatectomy for body and tail tumours. Chemotherapy before or after surgery improves outcomes, and stenting relieves jaundice when surgery is not immediately possible.
Why a super-specialist matters
Pancreatic surgery is among the most complex GI operations, and outcomes are strongly linked to surgeon and centre experience. Careful staging, multidisciplinary planning and meticulous peri-operative care give the best chance of a safe, curative result.
How we treat Pancreatic Cancer
View all services & treatments →Documented cases from our practice
A "difficult gallbladder" with dense scarring — removed safely by key-hole surgery without conversi…
Read case → Real case Polyp to Prevention: How a Colonoscopy Stopped a CancerA pre-cancerous polyp found and removed during screening — a colon cancer prevented before it could…
Read case → Real case Yellow Eyes to Relief: Clearing a Blocked Bile Duct by EndoscopyDeep jaundice from a bile-duct stone relieved by ERCP — no open surgery needed.
Read case →Visiting consultations near you
Meet Dr. Avinash Tank across Gujarat & Rajasthan — simple cases managed locally, advanced surgery at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Super-specialist GI, bariatric & cancer surgeon. SGPGIMS (India's premier GI centre) + advanced training in Japan & South Korea. Read full profile →
Last reviewed: June 2026Frequently asked questions
No. When detected early and confined to the pancreas, surgery combined with chemotherapy can be curative, which is why prompt specialist assessment of warning signs matters.
The Whipple operation removes the head of the pancreas, part of the bile duct, the duodenum and surrounding tissue, then reconnects the digestive tract. It is the standard curative surgery for tumours in the head of the pancreas.
A common early sign is painless jaundice — yellowing of the eyes and skin — often with weight loss. New, unexplained diabetes can also be a clue.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows a precise, minimally invasive needle biopsy of the pancreas while imaging the tumour in fine detail.
Pancreatic cancer surgery needs a high-volume HPB (hepato-pancreato-biliary) surgeon. Dr. Avinash Tank, MCh surgical gastroenterologist, offers pancreatic cancer surgery and multidisciplinary care at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
अग्न्याशय के कैंसर के लिए सर्जरी सबसे प्रभावी इलाज है, जिसे अनुभवी एचपीबी सर्जन द्वारा किया जाना चाहिए। अहमदाबाद में डॉ. अविनाश टांक यह सर्जरी करते हैं।
Haan, Dr. Avinash Tank, MCh surgical gastroenterologist, Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad mein pancreatic cancer surgery karte hain.
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