Important Alerts
Office and Urgent Care Closures

Cardiology-Jersey City is temporarily closed, while Cardiology-Newark is closed permanently.

The Croton-on-Hudson lab is temporarily closed until further notice.

As of November 20,  the Urgent Care in Carmel,  has moved to 100 Independent Way, Brewster NY.

Updates

Effective December 12, 2024, Dr. Pierce will no longer be practicing obstetrics & gynecology out of 1985 Crompond Road, building B. She will continue to see patients at Jefferson Valley and Yorktown Heights only.

As of December 20, 2024, Dr. Weinfeld will no longer be practicing podiatry out of 48 US 6 in Yorktown Heights and he will be re-locating full time to Jefferson Valley.

As of December 12, 2024, Dr. Fijman will no longer be practicing pulmonology and sleep medicine out of 310 North Highland Avenue, Suite 4 in Ossining and he will be re-locating full time to Jefferson Valley.

As of November 18,  Stacey Radinsky, MD has moved her practice to Bethpage.

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COVID-19 Information and Updates
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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.