Speak to our nurses
You can speak to our specialist nurses on our free Support Line about the different chemotherapy treatment options.
What's in the 'Chemotherapy' section?
- Chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer
- How is chemotherapy used for pancreatic cancer
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of chemotherapy?
- What chemotherapy drugs are used for pancreatic cancer?
- How is chemotherapy given?
- Side effects – how chemotherapy affects the blood
- Side effects of chemotherapy
- What happens after chemotherapy?
- Coping with chemotherapy
There are different chemotherapy drugs that can be used to treat pancreatic cancer. You may have one drug on its own, or two or more drugs together.
The chemotherapy you have will depend on your test results and how well you are. Your oncologist (cancer doctor) will discuss this with you. Your nurse (sometimes called a clinical nurse specialist or CNS) can also help with any questions.
We have listed the drugs, with the brand name in brackets:
- FOLFIRINOX – which combines oxaliplatin (Eloxatin®), folinic acid (leucovorin), irinotecan and fluorouracil (5FU)
- Gemcitabine (Gemzar®)
- GemCap – gemcitabine and capecitabine (Xeloda®)
- Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane®) with gemcitabine
- FOLFOX – which combines folinic acid, 5FU and oxaliplatin
- FOLFIRI – which combines folinic acid, irinotecan and 5FU.
FOLFIRINOX is only given to people who are well enough to have several drugs. This is because it can cause side effects that can be harder to deal with. Your oncologist (an expert on drug treatments for cancer) may lower the dose of some of the FOLFIRINOX drugs if you have lots of side effects. This is normal, and will mean you can continue having treatment. Talk to your chemotherapy team about how to manage side effects.
Second-line chemotherapy
The first chemotherapy treatment you have is called first-line chemotherapy. If you need more chemotherapy, you will have different drugs. This is called second-line chemotherapy. The aim is to control the cancer and any symptoms.
There are different second-line options which may be used.
- If you have had FOLFIRINOX, you may be able to have gemcitabine (with or without capecitabine).
- If you have had gemcitabine (with or without nab-paclitaxel), and are well enough to have further treatment, you may be able to have FOLFIRINOX, FOLFOX or FOLFIRI.
- If you have had gemcitabine and are not well enough to deal with more side effects, you may be able to have capecitabine.
Speak to your oncologist about which treatment may be best for you.
Speak to our nurses
Updated May 2024
Review date October 2026