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Pancreatic Cancer Care
Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in Houston at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas
Pancreatic Cancer Evaluation, Surgical Planning and Treatment Options
Yellowing of the skin or eyes, belly pain that spreads to the back, unexplained weight loss, or a scan that shows a spot on the pancreas can be frightening. These signs are more often caused by other conditions, such as gallstones, but they deserve a prompt evaluation. When pancreatic cancer is found before it has spread, surgery may be part of the treatment plan.
At Surgical Associates of Southern Texas, Dr. Murtaza Shakir, a board-certified general surgeon and surgical oncologist, reviews your scans, blood tests, and biopsy results, explains your diagnosis in plain language, and helps you understand whether surgery could be part of your treatment. He sees patients at offices in Katy and Sugar Land, serving Richmond, Fulshear, Stafford, Fort Bend County, and Greater Houston.
Meet the Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir, MD, general surgeon and surgical oncologist treating pancreatic cancer in Katy and Sugar Land, TX
- Dual board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
- Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery, 2026 (see listing)
- Highly reviewed: rated 4.9 stars on Google
- Specialized in cancers of the pancreas, liver, colon, and rectum, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, hernia repair, and gallbladder surgery
Patient Reviews
What Patients Say About Dr. Shakir
Rated 4.9 stars on Google. Real experiences from patients treated in Katy and Sugar Land.
Jump to a section
- At a glance
- What is pancreatic cancer?
- Types of pancreatic tumors
- Risk factors and early detection
- Symptoms and when to see a doctor
- How pancreatic cancer is diagnosed
- Stages and resectability
- Is surgery an option?
- Meet your surgeon
- How treatment is chosen
- Types of pancreatic surgery
- Treatments beyond surgery
- Before surgery
- Recovery and follow-up
- Risks and complications
- Patient reviews
- Why choose us
- Insurance
- Locations
- FAQs
- Schedule a consultation
At a Glance
Pancreatic Cancer at a Glance
- What it is
- Cancer that starts in the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach that makes digestive enzymes and blood sugar hormones. Most pancreatic cancers start in the cells lining the pancreatic ducts (adenocarcinoma).
- Who gets it
- Mostly older adults; most people are diagnosed at 65 or older. Smoking, diabetes, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, and some inherited gene changes raise the risk.
- Common signs
- Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, pale or greasy stools, itchy skin, belly pain that spreads to the back, weight loss, poor appetite, and fatigue. Early pancreatic cancer often causes no symptoms.
- How it is found
- Blood tests and imaging, such as a CT scan, MRI, or endoscopic ultrasound, find and stage the tumor. A biopsy confirms the diagnosis.
- Main treatments
- Surgery when the cancer can be completely removed, usually combined with chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation. Chemotherapy is the main treatment when the cancer cannot be removed.
- Who treats it
- A team that usually includes a surgeon, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a gastroenterologist. Dr. Shakir is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology.
- See a doctor promptly for
- New yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine with pale stools, unexplained weight loss, or upper belly pain that spreads to the back and does not go away. For severe pain, chest pain, or trouble breathing, call 911.
- Where
- Offices in Katy and Sugar Land, TX. Call 713-955-9191.
Pancreatic Cancer Basics
What Is Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which cells in the pancreas grow out of control and form a tumor. The pancreas sits deep in the upper abdomen, behind the stomach and in front of the spine.
The pancreas has two main jobs. It releases enzymes that help digest food, and it makes hormones, such as insulin, that help manage blood sugar. Most pancreatic cancers begin in the cells that line the small ducts carrying digestive enzymes.
The Parts of the Pancreas
The wide right end of the pancreas is called the head. It lies next to the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum), close to the bile duct. The middle section is the body, and the narrow left end, near the spleen, is the tail.
Where a tumor starts matters. A tumor in the head of the pancreas can press on the bile duct and cause jaundice while it is still small. Tumors in the body or tail often cause no symptoms until they are larger. The location also decides which operation is used if surgery is possible.
Tumor Types
What Are the Types of Pancreatic Tumors?
Tumors in the pancreas can be cancerous or noncancerous, and different types behave very differently. The type, confirmed by imaging and biopsy, guides every treatment decision.
Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
The most common type of pancreatic cancer starts in the lining of the pancreatic ducts and is called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. When people talk about pancreatic cancer, they usually mean this type, and it is the main focus of this page.
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Less often, a tumor starts in the hormone-making cells of the pancreas. These neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) differ from adenocarcinoma in their symptoms, treatment, and outlook, and they are evaluated separately.
Pancreatic Cysts and Precancerous Growths
Fluid-filled pancreatic cysts are often found on scans done for another reason. Some, such as serous cysts, are almost always benign. Others, such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms, can turn into cancer over time, so they are watched closely or removed.
Ampullary Cancer
Ampullary cancer starts where the bile duct and pancreatic duct empty into the small intestine. It is not technically a pancreatic cancer, but it is treated in much the same way. Because it often blocks the bile duct early and causes jaundice, it is usually found sooner.
A pancreatic cyst or mass on a scan does not always mean cancer. Specialized imaging, and sometimes a biopsy, helps decide whether a finding can be watched or should be treated.
Risk Factors
Who Is at Risk for Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is more common with older age, smoking, and certain medical and inherited conditions. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get pancreatic cancer, and many people who are diagnosed have no known risk factor other than age.
- Older age: most people are diagnosed at 65 or older
- Smoking and other tobacco use
- Diabetes, mostly type 2
- Obesity or excess body weight
- Chronic pancreatitis, long-term inflammation of the pancreas
- Family history of pancreatic cancer
- Inherited gene changes, such as in BRCA2 or BRCA1, and syndromes including Lynch syndrome and familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome
- Heavy workplace exposure to certain chemicals used in dry cleaning and metalworking
It is important to pay attention to new symptoms, especially if any of these risk factors apply to you. Read more about pancreatic cancer causes and risk factors.
Can Pancreatic Cancer Be Found Early?
Pancreatic cancer is hard to find early. The pancreas sits deep in the body, so small tumors cannot be seen or felt during a routine exam, and early cancers rarely cause symptoms.
Routine screening is not recommended for people at average risk, because no screening test has been shown to lower deaths from pancreatic cancer. People with a strong family history or a known inherited syndrome may be offered testing with endoscopic ultrasound or MRI. If pancreatic or related cancers run in your family, ask your doctor whether genetic counseling is right for you.
Steps That May Lower Your Risk
Some risk factors can be changed. Not smoking, staying at a healthy weight, and managing diabetes with your doctor are reasonable steps for your overall health and may lower your risk.
Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?
Early pancreatic cancer often causes mild, vague symptoms or none at all, which is one reason it is hard to detect. Symptoms usually become more noticeable as the tumor grows. They include:
- Jaundice: yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, often an early sign of a tumor in the head of the pancreas
- Dark urine
- Light-colored or gray stools, which may be greasy and float
- Itchy skin
- Belly pain that spreads to the back
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting, often worse after eating
- Fatigue or weakness
- New diabetes, or diabetes that becomes harder to control
- Blood clots, often in a leg vein, causing pain, swelling, and redness
Most of these symptoms are more often caused by something other than pancreatic cancer. Gallstones, hepatitis, and pancreatitis can all cause jaundice or upper belly pain. Still, the only way to know the cause is to be examined and tested.
When to See a Doctor
Contact your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist promptly if you notice:
- New yellowing of the skin or eyes, even without pain
- Dark urine together with pale or greasy stools
- Weight loss you cannot explain, especially with poor appetite
- Upper belly or mid-back pain that does not go away
- New diabetes along with weight loss, or diabetes that suddenly becomes harder to control
- A blood clot without a clear cause
If a scan or blood test suggests a pancreatic tumor, a consultation with a surgeon is usually an early step, even if other treatment comes first. Read more about what symptoms may indicate pancreatic cancer. Jaundice is often caused by gallstones; learn about gallbladder disease.
When Symptoms Need Urgent Care
Seek emergency care for severe belly pain that does not ease, yellow skin or eyes with fever and shaking chills, vomiting that will not stop, vomiting blood or black stools, sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, or a leg that suddenly becomes painful, swollen and red. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Diagnosis
How Is Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed?
Pancreatic cancer is diagnosed with imaging to find and measure the tumor, blood tests, and a biopsy to confirm cancer. Many patients are first seen by a primary care doctor or gastroenterologist, who orders tests and refers them to a surgeon and an oncologist. At your consultation, Dr. Shakir asks about your symptoms, health, and family history, examines you, and reviews the scans and reports you already have.
Blood Tests
Liver function tests can show whether the bile duct is blocked. Tumor markers such as CA 19-9 and CEA are often higher in pancreatic cancer. They help estimate the amount of cancer and track treatment, but they cannot diagnose pancreatic cancer on their own, because other conditions can raise them too.
CT Scan, MRI and PET
A CT scan done with a dedicated pancreas protocol gives detailed pictures of the tumor and the blood vessels around it. This is one of the most important tests for deciding whether surgery is possible. MRI with MRCP shows the bile duct and pancreatic duct in detail. A PET scan is sometimes used to look for spread to other organs.
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and ERCP
In endoscopic ultrasound, a thin scope with an ultrasound probe is passed through the mouth into the stomach and duodenum to look closely at the pancreas. A needle can be guided through the scope to take a biopsy. ERCP uses a scope and X-rays to view the bile duct. It can collect cell samples and place a small tube (stent) to relieve jaundice. These procedures are usually performed by a gastroenterologist with specialized training.
Biopsy
A biopsy removes a small sample of tissue to be examined under a microscope. It confirms whether cancer is present and what type it is. Most pancreatic biopsies are done with a needle, guided by endoscopic ultrasound or by a CT scan.
Genetic and Tumor Testing
The National Cancer Institute recommends genetic testing for everyone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, even without a family history, and molecular testing of the tumor. The results can point to targeted treatments and can matter for your relatives’ health. Genetic counseling is suggested before testing.
Please bring your CT, MRI, and endoscopic ultrasound reports and discs, biopsy and pathology reports, recent blood test results, a list of your medications, and any family history of cancer to your visit.
Staging
What Are the Stages of Pancreatic Cancer?
The stage describes how large the cancer is and how far it has spread, and treatment is planned based on it. Pancreatic cancer is formally staged from 0 to IV using the size of the tumor, the lymph nodes, and any spread to other organs. For planning treatment, doctors also group pancreatic cancer by whether surgery can remove it. This depends largely on whether the tumor involves the major blood vessels near the pancreas.
Resectable
The cancer is limited to the pancreas or nearby tissue, and imaging suggests it can be removed completely. Surgery is the main treatment, usually combined with chemotherapy before or after the operation.
Borderline Resectable
The tumor touches or is close to nearby blood vessels, so it may be hard to remove completely right away. Chemotherapy, sometimes with radiation, is usually given first, followed by new imaging to see whether surgery is still possible.
Locally Advanced
The cancer has not spread to distant organs, but it surrounds major blood vessels, so it cannot be removed safely. Chemotherapy, sometimes followed by chemoradiation, is the standard treatment. Surgery is possible only in the uncommon case that the tumor shrinks enough.
Metastatic
The cancer has spread to distant organs, such as the liver, the lining of the abdomen, or the lungs. Chemotherapy is the main treatment. Care focuses on controlling the cancer, relieving symptoms, and protecting quality of life.
Scans cannot always show small areas of spread. In some patients, a surgeon looks inside the abdomen with a camera (staging laparoscopy) before a planned operation. Your stage may also be updated after surgery, when the pathologist examines the removed tissue and lymph nodes.
Role of Surgery
Can Pancreatic Cancer Be Treated With Surgery?
Surgery offers the only realistic chance of cure for pancreatic cancer, but it is an option only when the cancer has not spread and can be removed completely. Many pancreatic cancers have already spread by the time they are found, and removing only part of a cancer has not been shown to help people live longer. That is why careful staging comes before any operation.
- Resectable cancer: surgery is the main treatment, with chemotherapy before or after it.
- Borderline resectable cancer: chemotherapy, sometimes with radiation, usually comes first, and surgery follows if the cancer can then be removed.
- Locally advanced or metastatic cancer: chemotherapy is the main treatment. A smaller procedure may still be used to relieve a blocked bile duct or intestine.
Even after a successful operation, pancreatic cancer can come back, so chemotherapy is usually recommended after surgery as well.
Why a Surgical Opinion Helps Early
Seeing a surgeon soon after diagnosis helps your team decide whether the cancer can be removed and in what order treatments should be given. Even when chemotherapy comes first, an early surgical review sets a clear plan for reassessing the tumor later.
Your Surgeon
Meet Your Pancreatic Cancer Surgeon
Murtaza Shakir, MD
Board-Certified General Surgeon & Surgical Oncologist
Pancreatic cancer care at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas is led by Dr. Murtaza Shakir, who is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology.
Board certification
American Board of Surgery: General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
Medical degree
Aga Khan University
Residency
General Surgery, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Fellowship
Two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Surgical practice includes
Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery (2026). Learn more about our general surgery services.
Treatment Planning
How Your Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Plan Is Chosen
Pancreatic cancer treatment is planned around the stage of the cancer, your health, and your goals. A team of doctors works on each case, usually including a surgeon, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a gastroenterologist. Dr. Shakir reviews these factors with you before recommending whether, and when, surgery fits.
Where the Tumor Is
A tumor in the head of the pancreas is treated with a different operation than one in the body or tail. Location also affects whether a stent is needed first for jaundice.
Nearby Blood Vessels
Whether the tumor touches or surrounds the major arteries and veins near the pancreas is a key factor in whether it can be removed safely.
Spread Beyond the Pancreas
Spread to the liver, the lining of the abdomen, or other organs means medicine, rather than surgery, becomes the main treatment.
Your Health and Nutrition
Pancreatic surgery is a major operation. Heart and lung health, diabetes, weight loss, nutrition, and your ability to recover all affect what is safest.
Response to Treatment
When chemotherapy is given first, repeat imaging and tumor markers show how the cancer responds and whether surgery becomes possible.
Your Goals and Preferences
Your priorities, including how you weigh the benefits and burdens of each treatment, are part of every decision. You can take time to ask questions and talk with your family.
Surgery Options
Types of Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
The operation used for pancreatic cancer depends mainly on where the tumor is in the pancreas. These are major operations done under general anesthesia in a hospital. Dr. Shakir explains which operation, if any, fits your situation, what it involves, and where it would be performed.
Open, Laparoscopic and Robotic Approaches
Open surgery through a single larger incision is still the most common approach for the Whipple procedure. Laparoscopic and robotic techniques, which use several small incisions and a camera, are used for some pancreatic operations in selected patients. The best approach depends on the tumor, prior surgery, and your overall health.
Staging Laparoscopy
Before a planned operation, a surgeon may look inside the abdomen through small incisions with a camera. This can find small areas of spread that scans miss, so a major operation that would not help is avoided.
Procedures to Relieve Symptoms
When a cancer cannot be removed, smaller procedures can relieve problems it causes. A stent placed during ERCP is the most common way to open a blocked bile duct. In some patients, a surgical bypass reroutes bile or food around a blockage. Pain can also be eased with medicines, radiation, or a nerve block.
| Feature | Whipple Procedure | Distal Pancreatectomy | Total Pancreatectomy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pancreas removed | Head of the pancreas | Tail, sometimes part of the body | The entire pancreas |
| Also removed | Part of intestine, bile duct, gallbladder, nodes | Usually the spleen | Gallbladder, spleen, parts of stomach and intestine |
| Good to know | Most common operation for pancreas head cancer | Vaccines are often given before surgery | Used less often |
| Afterward | Remaining organs reconnected so food can flow | Higher risk of certain infections without spleen | Lifelong insulin and enzyme pills |
Typical patterns only. Dr. Shakir recommends an approach after your exam.
Ask about pain management and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) at your consultation.
Beyond Surgery
Treatments That May Be Combined With Surgery
Most people with pancreatic cancer receive more than one type of treatment. Surgery treats the tumor itself, while medicines reach cancer cells throughout the body. These treatments are usually given by medical and radiation oncologists, before or after surgery.
- Chemotherapy: drugs that kill cancer cells. It may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor and treat hidden spread, after surgery to lower the chance of the cancer returning, or as the main treatment when surgery is not possible.
- Radiation therapy: high-energy rays aimed at the tumor, sometimes given with chemotherapy (chemoradiation), or used to relieve pain
- Targeted therapy: medicines aimed at specific gene changes in the tumor, which help a smaller group of patients
- Immunotherapy: medicines that help the immune system fight cancer, used for tumors with certain markers
- Clinical trials: studies of new treatments, which may be an option at any stage. Ask your care team whether one is right for you.
Supportive and Palliative Care
Palliative care focuses on comfort and quality of life, and it can be given at any stage, alongside treatment aimed at the cancer. It helps with pain, nausea, poor appetite, digestion, weight loss, and the stress of a cancer diagnosis. A dietitian can help with enzyme pills and eating well during treatment.
Preparing for Surgery
Before Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
Preparation is reviewed at your consultation and depends on the operation planned and any treatment you receive first. A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is stressful. The surgical team answers your questions before, during, and after surgery.
Questions to Ask Before Surgery
- Can my cancer be removed completely, and how sure are we from the scans?
- Should I have chemotherapy before surgery?
- Which operation would I need, and will my spleen or gallbladder be removed?
- Where would the surgery be done, and how often is this operation performed there?
- How long will I be in the hospital, and what will recovery look like?
- Will I need enzyme pills or insulin afterward?
- Should I have genetic counseling or testing?
- Is a clinical trial an option for me?
What Preparation May Include
- Consultation and physical examination
- Review of CT, MRI, endoscopic ultrasound, and biopsy results
- Blood tests, including tumor markers
- A stent to relieve jaundice, when needed
- Review of medical history and medications
- Heart, lung, and anesthesia evaluation
- Nutrition review and staying as active as you can
- Vaccines when the spleen may be removed
- Instructions on eating, drinking, and the day of surgery
See our pre-operative care guidance.
What to Tell the Surgical Team
- Blood thinners and aspirin
- All prescription and over-the-counter medicines
- Supplements
- Bleeding problems
- Diabetes, heart, or lung conditions
- Recent weight loss or trouble eating
- Previous abdominal surgery
- Known gene changes or family history of cancer
- Allergies
Do not stop prescription medication unless instructed by the appropriate healthcare professional.
After Surgery
Recovery After Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
Recovery from pancreatic cancer surgery takes time. Most patients stay in the hospital for several days or longer, and full recovery can take weeks to months. Your surgeon gives you instructions for your specific operation.
- Pain control: take pain medication as prescribed. Discomfort usually improves steadily over the first weeks.
- Walking: getting up and walking soon after surgery, as directed, helps prevent blood clots and pneumonia and speeds recovery.
- Eating: small, frequent meals are often easier at first. Some people have slow stomach emptying for a while.
- Digestion: enzyme pills taken with meals may be needed if the remaining pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
- Blood sugar: diabetes can develop or worsen after part of the pancreas is removed, so blood sugar is checked.
- Drains: a small tube may drain fluid near the pancreas for a time. You will be shown how to care for it.
- Pathology results: the final report on the tumor, margins, and lymph nodes is reviewed at your follow-up visit and guides further treatment.
- Chemotherapy: when recommended after surgery, it usually starts once you have recovered enough.
After treatment, follow-up visits usually include an exam, blood tests, and scans to watch for any return of the cancer. For more detail, see our post-operative care instructions, pain management, and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pages.
When to Call the Office
Call the office if you have a fever, increasing redness, warmth, or drainage from the incision, a change in the color or amount of drain fluid, ongoing nausea or trouble eating, greasy or frequent stools, high or hard-to-control blood sugar, or pain that is not controlled by your medication.
When to Get Emergency Care After Surgery
After surgery, seek care right away for chest pain or sudden shortness of breath, a painful swollen leg, severe belly pain or swelling, vomiting that will not stop or vomiting blood, bleeding from the incision or drain, black stools, or high fever with chills or confusion. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Surgery Risks
Risks and Possible Complications of Pancreatic Surgery
Pancreatic surgery is a major operation with higher risks than most abdominal operations, such as a leak where organs were reconnected, infection, bleeding or delayed stomach emptying. Schedule a consultation and Dr. Shakir will explain the risks that apply to you.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Surgical Associates of Southern Texas for Pancreatic Cancer Care?
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology and evaluates pancreatic tumors for surgery at offices in Katy and Sugar Land.
- Two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Scans, stage and options explained in plain language
- Plans based on your stage, health and goals
- Surgery planned in order with chemotherapy and radiation
- Consultations in Katy and Sugar Land
Insurance Coverage
Insurance for Pancreatic Cancer Care
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas accepts many major insurance plans for pancreatic cancer evaluation and surgery, including participating Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Our office can confirm whether your specific plan participates and whether a referral or prior authorization is needed before your visit.
Coverage, network participation, authorization requirements, and your share of the cost vary by plan. You can also review the insurance accepted for surgical care at our practice.
Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield are only some of the plans we accept. Plan-specific details are on our Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield pages. If your plan is not listed, contact our office and our team will help verify it.
Insurance participation and benefits vary by individual plan. Verification does not guarantee coverage, authorization or payment. Please contact our office and your insurer to verify benefits before treatment.
Our Locations
Two Convenient Fort Bend County Offices
Learn more about our Katy and Sugar Land practices, or view all locations.
Katy Office
410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D
Katy, TX 77494
Serves: Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cinco Ranch and West Houston
Sugar Land Office
17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Serves: Sugar Land, Richmond, Stafford, Missouri City, Fort Bend County and Southwest Houston
Approximate Drive Times
From West Houston (Energy Corridor): about 15 minutes to Katy, or 25 to 30 minutes to Sugar Land.
From North Houston: about 40 to 50 minutes to either office, depending on traffic.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Pancreatic Cancer
Is every pancreatic tumor or cyst cancer?
No. Tumors in the pancreas can be cancerous or noncancerous, and many pancreatic cysts are benign. Some cysts can become cancer over time, so imaging, and sometimes a biopsy, is used to decide whether a finding can be watched or should be removed.
What are the early signs of pancreatic cancer?
Early pancreatic cancer often causes no symptoms or only vague ones. Possible signs include yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale or greasy stools, itchy skin, belly pain that spreads to the back, weight loss, poor appetite, and fatigue.
Is there a screening test for pancreatic cancer?
There is no routine screening test for people at average risk. People with a strong family history or a known inherited syndrome may be offered testing with endoscopic ultrasound or MRI, after a discussion with their doctor or a genetic counselor.
How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually involves blood tests, a CT scan with a pancreas protocol or an MRI, and often an endoscopic ultrasound. A biopsy, usually done with a needle, confirms the diagnosis and the type of tumor.
What kind of doctor treats pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is treated by a team. A surgeon evaluates and performs surgery when the cancer can be removed, a medical oncologist manages chemotherapy, a radiation oncologist provides radiation, and a gastroenterologist often performs endoscopic ultrasound and places stents. Dr. Shakir is a board-certified general surgeon and surgical oncologist.
Can pancreatic cancer be removed with surgery?
Sometimes. Surgery is the only treatment that offers a realistic chance of cure, but only when the cancer has not spread and can be removed completely. Many people receive chemotherapy before or after surgery as well.
What is a Whipple procedure?
The Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is the most common operation for cancer in the head of the pancreas. It removes the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine and bile duct, the gallbladder, and nearby lymph nodes, then reconnects the digestive tract.
What if my pancreatic cancer cannot be removed?
Chemotherapy is the main treatment, sometimes with radiation. A stent or bypass can relieve a blocked bile duct or intestine, and palliative care helps with pain, nutrition, and quality of life. Clinical trials may also be an option.
How long is recovery after pancreatic cancer surgery?
Most people stay in the hospital for several days or longer, and full recovery can take weeks to months. Your surgeon gives you specific guidance on eating, activity, work, and driving.
Will I need enzymes or insulin after pancreatic surgery?
Some people do. If the remaining pancreas does not make enough digestive enzymes, enzyme pills are taken with meals. Diabetes can develop or worsen after surgery, and insulin is always needed after the whole pancreas is removed.
Sources and references
- Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer, American Cancer Society (ACS)
- Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors, American Cancer Society (ACS)
- Pancreatic Cancer Testing and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer, American Cancer Society (ACS)
- Pancreatic Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Reviewed by the Review Team at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas.
Medical Disclaimer: This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For severe abdominal pain, chest pain, trouble breathing, or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated October 16, 2026.
Schedule a Pancreatic Cancer Consultation
Has a scan shown a pancreatic mass or cyst, or do you have jaundice, unexplained weight loss or a new pancreatic cancer diagnosis? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Murtaza Shakir to understand your results and learn whether surgery may be possible and in what order. Offices in Katy and Sugar Land serve Richmond, Fulshear and Greater Houston.
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