Ask The Expert/FAQs

Other Frequently Asked Questions:

	Q.	It seems like more people, including celebrities, are being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Is there an effective screening tool for this disease?
	Q.	What is a Whipple procedure?
	Q.	What options are available to patients with primary liver cancer?
	Q.	Are minimally invasive procedures available to patients with pancreatic cancer?
	Q.	Who is at risk for primary liver cancer?

Q. It seems like more people, including celebrities, are being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Is there an effective screening tool for this disease?

A. There are many types of pancreatic cancer. The one with the poorest prognosis is known as pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Many patients who have pancreatic adenocarcinoma have vague symptoms that are misdiagnosed or undetected until the disease has become quite advanced. Unfortunately, there are currently no good screening tests for this form of cancer.

Q. What is a Whipple procedure?

A. In the Whipple procedure, surgeons remove the head of the pancreas, duodenum, gallbladder, and classically, a portion of the stomach. This procedure can be performed for a variety of reasons, most commonly cancer of the pancreas, common bile duct or duodenum. This operation is best performed at centers with high volume of major pancreatic resections, such as UC Irvine.

Q. What options are available to patients with primary liver cancer?

A.Currently, there are many surgical and non-surgical options available to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (or primary liver cancer). The gold standard option for liver cancer is surgical resection for patients with good liver function or liver transplant for patients with cirrhosis or liver failure. In addition, for patients who do not qualify for resection or transplant, we offer radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, alcohol ablation, chemoembolization, internal radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapy.

Q. Are minimally invasive procedures available to patients with pancreatic cancer?

A. UC Irvine is one of a few centers in the United States that routinely offer a minimally invasive approach (laparoscopic) for removal of distal pancreas diseases, such as cancer and chronic pancreatitis.  Minimally invasive surgery reduces recovery time and post-operative discomfort for the patient.

Q. Who is at risk for primary liver cancer?

A. Liver cancer is prevalent in the patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, chronic alcohol abuse and rare hereditary conditions, such as hemochromatosis and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.  Patients with these conditions should see their primary care doctor or a liver specialist for screening tests, such as ultrasound or CT scans, for liver cancer.

Questions? Contact the hepatobiliary and pancreas surgery team at 714.456.3884.

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