[Supportive therapy of pancreatic carcinoma]

Due to the progressive clinical course and unchanged poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer supportive therapy has to focus on improvement of the quality of life. Pain control is best achieved with slow release opiates and by chemoablation of the coeliac plexus. Furthermore, management of anorexia with megestrol acetate and tumor-adapted enteral and parenteral nutritional therapy are discussed. The treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects with haemopoetic growth factors and antiemetics is dealt with as well. Finally, the therapeutic principles of the management of post-pancreatectomy diabetes mellitus and postoperative steatorrhoea are pointed out.