Pancreatic cancer tends to spread quickly and early detection is uncommon. For up to 50% of patients, at the time of their diagnosis, the cancer has spread outside the pancreas to other organs. Survival rates are typically 12 to 18 months, but there have been improvements in surgical techniques and chemotherapy.

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Mark Truty, an oncology surgeon, and Dr. Santhi Swaroop Vege, a gastroenterologist, talk about treatment options, new chemotherapies, improving a patient's quality of life and the collaborative approach to team-based patient care at Mayo Clinic.