Guide To Understanding Pancreatic Cancer Stages

Metastatic Tumors

Metastatic tumors in pancreatic cancer are those that have spread to distant organs in the patient’s body. Thus, metastatic tumors are part of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, metastatic tumors in pancreatic cancer cannot be completely removed with surgery. Similar to locally advanced tumors, patients may still receive surgery for metastatic tumors to relieve or prevent some symptoms. Thus, surgery on these tumors at this stage of pancreatic cancer is often for quality of life purposes, rather than a cure. However, other treatments for pancreatic cancer, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may be examined to help treat patients with metastatic pancreatic tumors.