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Effective May 5, 2025, Podiatry in West New York will relocate to 201 State Rt 17 in Rutherford.

Effective April 28, 2025, Primary Care in Haddon Heights will relocate to 2 South Black Horse Pike in Mt. Ephraim.

Effective April 28, 2025, Cardiology in Haddon Heights will relocate to 322 Route 38, Cherry Hill.

Effective April 21, 2025 Pediatrics – Wall at 1560 State Route 138 will relocate to 3350 State Route 138.

Effective April 14, 2025 Primary Care – Voorhees has relocated to 165 S Black Horse Pike, Runnemede.

Effective April 14, 2025  Pediatrics – Manasquan has relocated to  3350 State Route 138 Wall.

As of April 7, 2025, Podiatry in Bayonne has relocated to 191 Lefante Way, Suite C in Bayonne.

As of April 7, 2025  Gastroenterology – Hackensack and Cardiology – Hackensack have relocated to 1 Maywood Avenue in Maywood.

As of April 7, 2025 Primary Care – Moorestown and Cardiology – Moorestown have relocated to Cherry Hill at 322 Route 38, Cherry Hill.

As of April 7,  2025,  Primary Care – Secaucus  and Gastroenterology – Secaucus have relocated to Rutherford at 201 Route 17 11th Floor Rutherford.

As of March 31, 2025, Primary Care – Rutherford has relocated to 201 Route 17, Suite 1102 in Rutherford.

As of March 28, 2025,  Primary Care – Roslyn has relocated to the Optum multi-specialty medical office location in Lake Success.

As of March 3, 2025, Pediatrics – Port Jefferson has relocated to 1500 Route 112, Building 1, Floor 1, in Port Jefferson.

As of March 3, 2025, Primary Care – Port Jefferson Station has relocated to 1500 Route 112, Building 1, Floor 1, in Port Jefferson.

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Home ❯ Services and specialties ❯ Pancreatic, bile duct and gallbladder cancer

Understanding your risk

Like other cancers, your risk depends on many variables including:

  • Family history
  • Lifestyle behaviors (e.g. smoking and tobacco use)
  • General health
  • Obesity and diets high in fat
  • Exposure to harsh chemicals
  • Chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
  • Diabetes
  • Age (most people are diagnosed after age 65)

Optum offers comprehensive cancer risk assessments and hereditary cancer genetics evaluation programs to help you identify your risk.  Start our online hereditary assessment now ›

Symptoms

Pancreatic, bile duct and gallbladder cancer are difficult to detect early because the symptoms are not obvious to recognize. The most common symptoms of each include:

  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • Upper abdominal pain with or without fever
  • Weight loss
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Skin itching
  • New onset or sudden worsening of diabetes

Diagnosis

If you have specific signs and symptoms that lead to pancreatic, bile duct or gallbladder cancer, a series of tests and exams will be done to find the actual cause, starting with diagnostic imaging such as:

  • Image-guided biopsy
  • Endoscopic ultrasound
  • Computed tomography (CT) scan
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan

If the findings suggest the likelihood of cancer, more tests may be ordered to determine the severity.

Treatment

Treatment is tailored to the specific characteristics of each patient and each tumor. The most common treatments include:

  • Chemotherapy: chemicals administered in pill or IV form to kill and slow the growth of cancer cells
  • Radiation therapy: high-powered beams of energy, such as x-rays and protons, that are used to kill and slow the growth of cancer cells
  • Targeted and immunotherapy: drugs that attack specific abnormalities within cancer cells or by directing your immune system to kill cancer cells
  • Surgery: to remove the tumor or affected area

Learn more about Optum’s minimally-invasive robotic assisted surgery options ›

Medical care and help

To find a pancreas, bile ducts and gallbladder cancer specialist near you, visit our Providers page.

Contact us if you have any questions.