Byetta Pancreatic Cancer Treatments and Drugs

Byetta (exenatide) was linked to a nearly 3-fold increased risk of pancreatic cancer in a 2011 study published in Gastroenterology. Although the link between Byetta and pancreatic cancer is inconclusive, it is a cause for concern. Many people with pancreatic cancer require extensive treatment, drug therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy.

Do I Have a Texas Byetta Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured by Byetta, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Byetta lawsuit in Texas.

UPDATE: Drug Shows Promise in Treating Pancreatic Cancer

January 22, 2013 — The New York Times reports that Celgene’s drug Apraxane plus gemcitabine has prolonged the lives of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer to 8.5 months, compared to 6.7 months for people who received gemcitabine alone. Click here to read more.

Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat, and it can only be controlled if it is found before it has metastasized (spread to other tissues or organs). If it is diagnosed after it has spread, treatment for pancreatic cancer is aimed at improving the patient’s quality of life by controlling symptoms and complications.

Standard treatments for pancreatic cancer include:

• Surgery: Pancreatic cancer can be removed with surgery if it has not already spread to other organs. This option presents the best option for long-term survival.
• Whipple Operation: This surgery involves removal of a tumor located in the head of the pancreas (about 20% of the total organ). The bottom half of the bile duct and small intestine is also removed. In some cases, part of the stomach may also be removed.
• Radiation therapy: This uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy: This treatment uses drugs to help kill cancer cells. It may also be combined with radiation therapy.
• Drug Treatments: (see below)
  
• Palliative care: Treatment to make the patient as comfortable as possible by alleviating symptoms and complications.

Drug Treatments for Pancreatic Cancer

There are many drugs that can be used to treat symptoms and complications of pancreatic cancer. The standard drug treatments for pancreatic cancer include:

• Gemcitabine (Gemzar)
• Fluorouracil
• Capecitabine (Xeloda)
• And more

Because pancreatic cancer often causes chronic abdominal and/or back pain, most people take painkilling medications.

In advanced pancreatic cancer, the pancreas may fail to produce digestive enzymes or metabolic hormones (such as insulin and glucagon). These patients may take digestive enzyme supplements or other medications to balance blood-sugar levels.

Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis

Many factors influence long-term prognosis for people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after using Byetta:

• Whether the tumor can be removed with surgery.
• Where the tumor is located, and its size
• The stage and size of the tumor (whether the cancer has spread to other tissue or organs)
• The general health of the patient
• Whether the tumor is new or has recurred after a previous treatment.

Do I have a Byetta Lawsuit in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Texas Byetta lawsuit review.