Pancreatic Cancer

When you come to Winship Cancer Institute for pancreatic cancer treatment, you have a multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to your well-being.

Your Care at Winship

The pancreatic cancer program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University offers the most advanced care and treatments for patients.

Our multidisciplinary teams include oncology surgeons, radiologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, and advanced practice nurses with expertise in pancreatic cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers.

The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly experienced teams include:

  • Access to doctors and surgeons who rank among the top cancer experts in the world.
  • Weekly review of patient cases by the full team of experts.
  • Coordinated scheduling for appointments among various specialties.
  • Access to nurse navigator to assist you throughout the treatment process.
  • Access to support groups and education classes for you and your caregivers.
  • Availability of new treatment options within our clinical trials program.

Diagnosing Your Pancreatic Cancer

More than 95 percent of pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas that line pancreatic ducts.

The stage of your disease indicates how much it has spread.  Early stage cancer is a disease limited to one organ. Late stage cancer indicates spread to other organs like to the liver and lung or to the bone. Determining the stage of your cancer will affect your treatment plan.  Your Winship care team may use one or more tests and procedures to determine the stage of your pancreatic cancer:

  • Physical exam and lab tests.
  • CT scan: computer imaging produces a 3-D picture of the pancreas and surrounding organs that allows a doctor to check for abnormal tissue that may be cancerous.
  • Ultrasonography: sound waves create images as they bounce off the tissue in the abdomen.
  • Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): a technique that uses x-ray evaluation with the aid of an endoscope to facilitate the imaging of dyes that are injected into the ducts of the pancreas.
  • Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography (PTC): a technique that uses a combination of dye injected into the liver and x-ray imaging in order to see if the bile ducts allow passage of fluid or if they are blocked by a tumor or other condition.
  • Biopsy: a sample of tissue from the pancreas is examined by a pathologist to look for cancerous cells.

Learn About Cancer

For reliable, in-depth information about cancer symptoms, staging and diagnosis, visit CancerQuest, an educational and outreach program at Emory University. 

Visit CancerQuest

Your Treatment Options

There are a variety of treatment options for pancreatic cancer depending on the size and location of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread and the overall health of the patient. For some patients, a combination of treatment methods may be used.

Surgery: during surgery for pancreatic cancer, a physician may remove parts of or the entire pancreas. Procedures include:

  • Whipple Procedure or Pancreaticoduodenectomy: this method is used when the tumor is in the head of the pancreas. The surgeon removes the head of the pancreas and parts of the bile ducts, small intestines and stomach.
  • Distal Pancreatectomy: in this procedure, the body and tail of the pancreas are removed in addition to the spleen.
  • Total Pancreatectomy: the entire pancreas is removed along with part of the small intestine, a portion of the stomach, the common bile duct, the gallbladder, the spleen, and nearby lymph nodes.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used if surgery is not recommended, before surgery to shrink the size of the tumor, or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. In addition to standard targeted therapies, participating in a clinical trial may be an option in certain cases. Clinical trials provide patients access to new medications that are being developed to treat pancreatic cancer.

Radiation: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation may be used if surgery is not recommended and to destroy cancer cells that remain after surgery. Learn more about radiation therapy treatments and services.

Targeted therapies: In personalized medicine, researchers identify unique characteristics of tumors that make them vulnerable to known drugs so therapy can be tailored to an individual’s cancer. In targeted therapies, Winship investigators look for new drugs that more selectively target cancer cells with fewer side effects.

In addition to delivering the highest quality medical care, we recognize the importance of the psychological and emotional aspects of living with a cancer diagnosis and of dealing with treatment. Our supportive oncology team addresses these issues in a timely manner with additional support from counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals.

Clinical Trials at Winship

 Consider talking with your doctor about participating in a clinical trial at Winship. Through these trials, you may have access to treatments that are not widely available.

Learn More About Clinical Trials

Your Next Steps

If you have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, we are ready to help you. Call us at 1 (888) 946-7447 or (404) 778-1900 to make an appointment or request an appointment online. Winship experts are available to provide a second opinion.

We understand that this is a very stressful time. We welcome your questions and requests for help. Learn what to expect on your first visit.

Cascade Link

Your Treatment Team

N. Volkan Adsay MD

  • Pathologist
Photo of N. Volkan Adsay MD
N. Volkan Adsay MD

N. Volkan Adsay MD

  • Dr. Adsay is an internationally-recognized pathologist in the field of gastrointestinal and pancreatobiliary cancers.
  • Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Olatunji B. Alese MD

  • Medical Oncologist
Photo of Olatunji B. Alese MD
Olatunji B. Alese MD

Olatunji B. Alese MD

Rebecca Arnold LCSW, OSW-C

  • Social Worker
Photo of Rebecca Arnold LCSW, OSW-C
Rebecca Arnold LCSW, OSW-C

Rebecca Arnold LCSW, OSW-C

Wendy Baer MD

  • Psychiatric Oncologist
Photo of Wendy Baer MD
Wendy Baer MD

Wendy Baer MD

  • Dr. Baer helps patients and their families deal with the stress of receiving a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
  • Medical Director of Psychiatric Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
  • (404) 778-1900

Tiffany Barrett MS, RD, CSO, LD

  • Nutrition Advisor
Photo of Tiffany Barrett MS, RD, CSO, LD
Tiffany Barrett MS, RD, CSO, LD

Tiffany Barrett MS, RD, CSO, LD

Tiffany Brosius RN, BSN, OCN

  • Nurse Navigator
Photo of Tiffany Brosius RN, BSN, OCN
Tiffany Brosius RN, BSN, OCN

Tiffany Brosius RN, BSN, OCN

Russell Brown LMSW

  • Social Worker
Photo of Russell Brown LMSW
Russell Brown LMSW

Russell Brown LMSW

  • Mr. Brown works with gastrointestinal, genitourinary, breast cancer, brain cancer, gynecological, aerodigestive, and sarcoma patients at Emory University Hospital Midtown.
  • Social Worker, Medical Oncology, Emory University Hospital Midtown
  • (404) 686-5191

Edith Brutcher NP, ANP-BC, MSN, AOCNP

  • Nurse Practitioner
Photo of Edith Brutcher NP, ANP-BC, MSN, AOCNP
Edith Brutcher NP, ANP-BC, MSN, AOCNP

Edith Brutcher NP, ANP-BC, MSN, AOCNP

  • A chemotherapy infusion specialist and adult nurse practitioner, Ms. Brutcher's clinical specialties include gastrointestinal and aerodigestive cancers.
  • Adult Nurse Practitioner, Department of Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
  • (404) 778-1900

Kenneth Cardona MD, FACS

  • Surgical Oncologist
Photo of Kenneth Cardona MD, FACS
Kenneth Cardona MD, FACS

Kenneth Cardona MD, FACS

  • Dr. Cardona is a board certified surgeon and surgical oncologist who specializes in the management of complex gastrointestinal malignancies (such as stomach, pancreas, and liver cancers) and is an expert in the treatment of sarcomas.
  • Co-Chair Gastrointestinal Oncology Working Group, Emory University Hospital Midtown
  • (404) 778-1900

Hilary G. Cohen LCSW, OSW-C

  • Social Worker
Photo of Hilary G. Cohen LCSW, OSW-C
Hilary G. Cohen LCSW, OSW-C

Hilary G. Cohen LCSW, OSW-C

Hannah H. Collins NP

  • Nurse Practitioner
Photo of Hannah H. Collins NP
Hannah H. Collins NP

Hannah H. Collins NP

Kimberly A. Curseen MD

  • Supportive Oncologist
Photo of Kimberly A. Curseen MD
Kimberly A. Curseen MD

Kimberly A. Curseen MD

  • Board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Dr. Curseen is the primary provider for the Supportive Oncology Clinic at Winship.
  • Director of Supportive and Palliative Care Outpatient Services , Emory Healthcare
  • (404) 778-1900

Samantha Dunn MS, RD, LD

  • Nutrition Advisor
Photo of Samantha Dunn MS, RD, LD
Samantha Dunn MS, RD, LD

Samantha Dunn MS, RD, LD

  • A Registered Dietitian, Mrs. Dunn provides cancer patients who are undergoing treatment at Emory University Hospital Midtown with personalized nutrition advice.
  • Registered Dietitian, Emory University Hospital Midtown
  • (404) 686-0221

Bassel El-Rayes MD

  • Medical Oncologist
Photo of Bassel El-Rayes MD
Bassel El-Rayes MD

Bassel El-Rayes MD

  • Dr. El-Rayes is the chief clinical research scientist responsible for coordinating and providing high-level direction to the clinical cancer research programs and clinical cancer trials across the Emory campuses.
  • Associate Director for Clinical Research, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
  • (404) 778-1900

Joan Giblin NP

  • Survivorship Program
Photo of Joan Giblin NP
Joan Giblin NP

Joan Giblin NP

  • An experienced nurse practitioner specialist with extensive patient care involvement, Ms. Giblin facilitates continued good health and quality of life for cancer survivors.
  • Survivorship Program Director, Winship Cancer Institute
  • (404) 778-1900

Natalyn Hawk MD, PhD

  • Medical Oncologist
Photo of Natalyn Hawk MD, PhD
Natalyn Hawk MD, PhD

Natalyn Hawk MD, PhD

Sujata Kane MS, RD, PA-C

  • Physician Assistant
Photo of Sujata Kane MS, RD, PA-C
Sujata Kane MS, RD, PA-C

Sujata Kane MS, RD, PA-C

Steven Keilin MD

  • Gastroenterologist
Photo of Steven Keilin MD
Steven Keilin MD

Steven Keilin MD

  • An attending gastroenterologist with expertise in advanced endoscopy, Dr. Keilin works with Winship's gastrointestinal teams to deliver top cancer care.
  • Associate Director, Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Program, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Robert J. Klafter MD

  • Community Oncologist
Photo of Robert J. Klafter MD
Robert J. Klafter MD

Robert J. Klafter MD

  • As part of Winship's community oncology team, Dr. Klafter will provide personalized care to cancer patients at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital.
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Emily Walters Klein RD, CSO, LD

  • Nutrition Advisor
Photo of Emily Walters Klein RD, CSO, LD
Emily Walters Klein RD, CSO, LD

Emily Walters Klein RD, CSO, LD

  • Ms. Klein offers personalized nutrition advice to cancer patients treated at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital and Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
  • Registered Dietitian, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
  • (678) 843-7115

David A. Kooby MD, FACS

  • Surgical Oncologist
Photo of David A. Kooby MD, FACS
David A. Kooby MD, FACS

David A. Kooby MD, FACS

  • Dr. Kooby is involved in multicenter clinical research and is an international leader in minimally invasive pancreatic and liver surgery.
  • Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Jerome C. Landry MD, MBA

  • Radiation Oncologist
Photo of Jerome C. Landry MD, MBA
Jerome C. Landry MD, MBA

Jerome C. Landry MD, MBA

  • Dr. Landry specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors and soft tissue sarcomas.
  • Chief of Service, Edward Loughlin Oncology Center, Grady Memorial Hospital
  • (404) 778-1900

Colleen Lewis NP

  • Nurse Practitioner
Photo of Colleen Lewis NP
Colleen Lewis NP

Colleen Lewis NP

Lori Little MMSc, PA-C, PT

  • Physician Assistant
Photo of Lori Little MMSc, PA-C, PT
Lori Little MMSc, PA-C, PT

Lori Little MMSc, PA-C, PT

Shishir K. Maithel MD, FACS

  • Surgical Oncologist
Photo of Shishir K. Maithel MD, FACS
Shishir K. Maithel MD, FACS

Shishir K. Maithel MD, FACS

  • Dr. Maithel is a board certified surgeon and surgical oncologist with special interest in malignancies of the liver, bile ducts, pancreas, stomach, colon, and small intestine.
  • Associate Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Kim Palmer

  • Chaplain
Photo of Kim Palmer
Kim Palmer

Kim Palmer

  • Ms. Palmer provides spiritual care to patients, families, and staff in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
  • Chaplain, Emory University Hospital
  • (404) 712-7200

Beth Perlmutter MSSW, LCSW, OSW-C

  • Social Worker
Photo of Beth Perlmutter MSSW, LCSW, OSW-C
Beth Perlmutter MSSW, LCSW, OSW-C

Beth Perlmutter MSSW, LCSW, OSW-C

  • At Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital, Ms. Perlmutter works with patients of all cancer types providing resource referrals and counseling services.
  • Social Worker, Outpatient Oncology, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
  • (678) 843-7826

Joseph Pfeffer LMSW

  • Social Worker
Photo of Joseph Pfeffer LMSW
Joseph Pfeffer LMSW

Joseph Pfeffer LMSW

  • Mr. Pfeffer works with the genitourinary and gastrointestinal patients at Winship Cancer Institute.
  • Social Worker, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
  • (404) 778-5976

Meredith Renfroe CCRP

  • Clinical Research Coordinator
Photo of Meredith Renfroe CCRP
Meredith Renfroe CCRP

Meredith Renfroe CCRP

  • Clinical Research Coordinator IV, Gastrointestinal Oncology Team Lead, Clinical Trials Office, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
  • (404) 778-2670

Carol Rivera ACBSW

  • Social Worker
Photo of Carol Rivera ACBSW
Carol Rivera ACBSW

Carol Rivera ACBSW

  • Ms. Rivera works with the aerodigestive and gastrointestinal cancer teams and their patients.
  • Social Worker, Medical Oncology and Surgical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
  • (404) 778-4593

Maria C. Russell MD

  • Surgical Oncologist
Photo of Maria C. Russell MD
Maria C. Russell MD

Maria C. Russell MD

  • Dr. Russell's treats melanoma and metastatic melanoma, tumors of the liver, biliary tract, pancreas, spleen and gallbladder, metastatic tumors to the liver, tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, and neuroendocrine tumors.
  • Assistant Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Juan M. Sarmiento MD, FACS

  • Surgeon
Photo of Juan M. Sarmiento MD, FACS
Juan M. Sarmiento MD, FACS

Juan M. Sarmiento MD, FACS

  • Dr. Sarmiento, an expert in liver, biliary tract and pancreas surgery, is one of only a handful of surgeons with a commitment to hepatopancreatic biliary surgery.
  • Associate Professor, Division of General and GI Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Neil D. Saunders MD

  • Surgical Oncologist
Photo of Neil D. Saunders MD
Neil D. Saunders MD

Neil D. Saunders MD

  • A board certified surgeon and surgical oncologist, Dr. Saunders specializes in cancers of the endocrine organs including thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas and adrenal glands.
  • Assistant Professor, Division of General and GI Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Walid L. Shaib MD

  • Medical Oncologist
Photo of Walid L. Shaib MD
Walid L. Shaib MD

Walid L. Shaib MD

Vinita Singh MD

  • Pain Management Specialist
Photo of Vinita Singh MD
Vinita Singh MD

Vinita Singh MD

  • Dr. Singh collaborates with oncologists to provide state-of-the-art therapies to cancer patients suffering from pain symptoms.
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Charles A. Staley MD

  • Surgical Oncologist
Photo of Charles A. Staley MD
Charles A. Staley MD

Charles A. Staley MD

  • Dr. Staley leads the surgical oncology team and as Chief Quality Officer works collaboratively with leadership on tracking and improving patient services and satisfaction as well as focusing on cancer outcomes at Winship.
  • Chief Quality Officer, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
  • (404) 778-1900

Stephen M. Szabo MD

  • Community Oncologist
Photo of Stephen M. Szabo MD
Stephen M. Szabo MD

Stephen M. Szabo MD

  • Dr. Szabo practices general medical oncology and specializes in the treatment of breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and benign hematology at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital.
  • Director of Community Oncology, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
  • (404) 778-1900

Collin J. Weber MD

  • Surgeon
Photo of Collin J. Weber MD
Collin J. Weber MD

Collin J. Weber MD

Field F. Willingham MD, MPH

  • Gastroenterologist
Photo of Field F. Willingham MD, MPH
Field F. Willingham MD, MPH

Field F. Willingham MD, MPH

  • Dr. Willingham is a leading expert in interventional and therapeutic endoscopy, seeing patients for specialized procedures from the United States and abroad.
  • Director of Endoscopy, Division of Digestive Disease, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900

Joshua H. Winer MD

  • Surgical Oncologist
Photo of Joshua H. Winer MD
Joshua H. Winer MD

Joshua H. Winer MD

  • Dr. Winer's specialties include HIPEC, laparoscopic and robotic pancreas, liver, and gastric resections, and minimally invasive colon surgery.
  • Assistant Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine
  • (404) 778-1900
  TOP