Pancreatic liver and biliary cancer

Oncologists and care teams at Ascension St. Vincent Cancer Center deliver compassionate, personalized lung cancer care.

Pancreatic liver and biliary cancer care in Indiana

Cancer specialists at Ascension St. Vincent Cancer Center in Indiana deliver advanced care for pancreatic, liver and biliary cancer.

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About pancreatic, liver and biliary cancer care

Being diagnosed with cancer can leave you with a lot of questions and concerns. We’re here to listen to you. Ask us your questions — big and small. By getting to know you and your health, we deliver the cancer care that’s right for you. Whether you have recently received a cancer diagnosis, or you're looking for a second opinion, we’re here for you. It is our commitment to you, that we will contact you in the first 48 hours after receiving a referral to discuss next steps.

A multidisciplinary approach to cancer care

When you choose Ascension St. Vincent for your cancer care, you get a multidisciplinary team dedicated to your care. Our team of surgical and medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, general and interventional radiologists, pathologists, genetic counselors, palliative care specialists, and dietitians work together to deliver highly specialized care. If you have complex cancer, we have a team of specialists that meet regularly to review and discuss your imaging and diagnosis. Together, we create a personalized care plan that’s right for you.

Types of pancreatic, liver and biliary cancer

Your doctors and care team deliver a customized care plan for your cancer. We treat many types of pancreatic, liver and biliary cancer, including:

Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
Chronic liver diseases (NASH, Hepatitis A, B and C)
Colorectal cancer
Cystic lesions of the pancreas
Gallbladder cancer
Klatskin tumors
Liver cancer
Liver cysts
Metastatic tumors (breast, melanoma)
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Pancreatitis

How we diagnose pancreatic, liver and biliary cancer

Your care team focuses on identifying if the tumor is non-invasive or invasive and to understand where the tumor began and whether or not the cancer has spread. We use advanced molecular studies to recognize pancreatic cancer subtypes to create a care plan for your type of cancer. To diagnose pancreatic, liver and biliary cancer, your doctor may recommend testing, such as:

A biopsy evaluates tissue or cells to help diagnose cancer and determine its stage.

Blood tests measure substances found in your blood and can help detect or monitor certain conditions, including cancer.

This scan uses X-rays and a computer to make 3-D images (often called slices) of your body. A CT scan can show any part of your body, including bones, muscles, fat, blood vessels, and organs. CT scans are a lot more detailed than X-rays.

Blood tests can give your doctor a lot of information. They can see if certain elements in your blood are in a normal range. But in many cases, blood tests are only part of the information your doctor needs to make a diagnosis of a health condition. The diagnostic blood test will confirm or rule out if you have a certain condition or type of cancer.

MRI uses a strong magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make detailed images of organs and other structures inside your body. An MRI is often used to look at the heart, brain, liver, pancreas, male and female reproductive organs, and other soft tissues. MRI can show even small changes in tissues. It can assess blood flow, find tumors, and diagnose many forms of cancer, evaluate infections, and assess injuries to bones and joints.

Ultrasound uses high-energy sound waves to create images of blood vessels, tissues and organs.

How we treat pancreatic, liver and biliary cancer

Cancer is personal. And so is how we care for you. Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan based on your diagnosis, health and other factors. Our multidisciplinary team offers many different treatment options, including:

An Aspira drain (often called an Aspira drainage catheter) is a medical device used to remove excess fluid from the body, usually in people with cancer or chronic conditions.

Chemotherapy (or chemo) uses medications that travel through the bloodstream to destroy cancer cells

Often just called SpyGlass is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure that lets doctors see directly inside the bile ducts and perform targeted diagnosis or treatment.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure used to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. During the procedure, your care team gently guides a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera through your mouth into your stomach and small intestine to look for any concerns. They may then inject a special dye into the bile and pancreatic ducts so these areas show clearly on X-ray images, helping identify blockages or other issues. Your team will support you throughout and focus on keeping you as comfortable as possible.

An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a procedure that allows doctors to get very detailed images of the digestive tract and nearby organs, including the pancreas, liver, and bile ducts. It uses a thin, flexible tube with both a camera and an ultrasound probe on the tip, which is gently guided through the mouth into the stomach and small intestine. From this close position, the ultrasound can create clear images of structures that are hard to see from outside the body. If needed, the doctor can also take small tissue samples (biopsies) during the procedure to help make a diagnosis.

A gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a procedure that lets doctors look inside the digestive tract using a thin, flexible tube with a camera. It can be passed through the mouth or rectum to examine areas like the esophagus, stomach, or colon, and can also be used to take biopsies or treat certain conditions while keeping you as comfortable as possible.

For liver cancer, Histotripsy is a noninvasive treatment that uses focused sound waves (ultrasound) to break down and destroy tumors at the sub-cellular level without surgery, needles, or radiation. The focused ultrasound uses high amplitude, very short pulses to create a “bubble cloud” that is designed to destroy and liquefy targeted liver tumors, all while the treating physician continuously monitors the treatment effect in real-time.

Uses imaging guidance to to perform minimally invasive procedures by opening blocked blood vessels to deliver targeted medication therapies for diagnosis and treatment.

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a minimally invasive treatment that uses short pulses of electrical energy to destroy cancer cells. Thin needles are placed around the tumor, and the electrical pulses create tiny openings in the cancer cells, causing them to die while helping preserve nearby important structures like blood vessels and ducts. It is sometimes used for tumors in areas that are difficult to treat with surgery, such as the pancreas or liver.

Liver ablation therapy is a treatment that destroys tumors in the liver without surgery. A doctor uses imaging to guide a thin needle into the tumor and applies heat, cold, or other energy to kill the cancer cells, while protecting as much healthy liver tissue as possible.

Percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD) is a procedure used to relieve a blockage in the bile ducts and help bile flow properly again.

A percutaneous biopsy is a procedure used to take a small sample of tissue from inside the body using a needle inserted through the skin.

Radiation therapy kills cancer cells with beams of high-energy X-rays (called photons) or charged particles (called electrons or protons). It can be used in many ways. It depends on the type of cancer you have and where it is in your body.

Support programs and resources: Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups, yoga and spiritual care. And, at Ascension St. Vincent sites of care, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and your loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you.

TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) is a procedure used to improve blood flow through the liver when there is high pressure in the liver’s blood vessels (called portal hypertension).

Transarterial liver-directed therapy is a group of minimally invasive treatments that deliver medication or radiation directly to tumors in the liver through the blood vessels..

Frequently asked questions about our pancreatic cancer care services

Your doctor and care team get to know you well, and you’ll receive care for the whole person – from physical health and well-being to mental and emotional health. At Ascension St. Vincent Cancer Center, we provide innovative medication treatments, the latest surgical technologies and techniques, high-tech radiation facilities and support services. When you choose Ascension St. Vincent, you get a national team of experienced cancer specialists, sharing best practices and the latest in cancer care knowledge and research.

When you choose Ascension St. Vincent for your cancer care, you get an entire team dedicated to your care. You may have a lot of concerns and questions. Your doctor and care team are ready to listen and answer your questions. Working together, we offer services that help support your treatment plan, including managing pain and other symptoms, medications, appetite changes, sleeplessness, fatigue and mood changes. Your entire care team stays connected throughout your care to discuss your treatment and progress.

We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs. Your cancer care team can connect you to a financial counselor.

At Ascension St. Vincent cancer center and clinics, we offer convenient parking. Talk to your care team if you have transportation needs.

Surgical oncologists and anesthesiologists provide enhanced recovery pathways as part of your surgical care plan. They are an important part of our cancer treatment programs. Each pathway is personalized for different types of cancer treatment, to help speed up your recovery after surgery. Your care team uses these protocols to help you prepare for what to expect before, during and after surgery.