Some people may not give much thought to the pancreas, especially those with normal pancreatic function. But for the 1.2 million Americans diagnosed with pancreatic disease each year, treatment decisions are crucial. The most common pancreatic diseases treated at Cleveland Clinic include acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer in the United States. Did you know it is also the fourth deadliest? Pancreatic cancer is known to spread silently, so in most cases, symptoms do not present themselves until the disease is in an advanced stage. Unfortunately, by this point, treatment options are limited. It is essential for patients to educate themselves on symptoms, diagnoses and treatment options appropriate for them. As a patient, you have the right to ask questions and to seek a second opinion.
Cleveland Clinic’s Pancreas Clinic unites specialists including pancreatic surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, psychologists and oncologists when needed, who together work to customize the best possible treatment for patients and give them improved quality of life. This collaboration also means that patients get the care they need right away, rather than waiting for separate appointments with various specialists. The Pancreas Clinic is one of the few centers in the nation that specializes in patient-centered treatments and frontline research for every type of pancreatic disorder.
Take advantage of this opportunity to chat live with Cleveland Clinic surgeon Dr. Jane Wey and radiation oncologist Dr. May Abdel-Wahab to get the information you or a loved one may need on pancreatic disease.Jane Wey, MD is a board-certified surgeon in the department of general surgery in the Digestive Disease Institute. She is a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist with a focus on upper gastrointestinal and minimally invasive surgery. Her clinical interests include pancreatic and gastric malignancies, heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy for carcinomatosis, retroperitoneal sarcomas, and regional therapy for melanoma.
Dr. Wey graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and received her medical degree from the University of California, San Diego. She completed general surgery residency at the University of California Davis Medical Center and surgical oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She also completed a surgical oncology research fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center studying angiogenesis in gastrointestinal malignancies.
May Abdel-Wahab, MD,PhD is a Staff Radiation Oncologist in the Taussig Cancer Institute. She is board-certified in radiation oncology. Her specialty interests include gastrointestinal cancer, prostate cancer, and research in radiation oncology and hormones.
Dr. Abdel-Wahab graduated with Honors and received her medical degree from Cairo University. She completed her MSc and Doctorate degree and training at the National Cancer Institute at Cairo University. She completed a residency and fellowship in radiation oncology at the University of Miami. Dr. Wahab also completed a fellowship at Crawford Long hospital of Emory University.
Prior to joining the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Wahab was a tenured faculty and the former Residency Program Director at the University of Miami. Dr Wahab led the cancer center genitourinary cancer site disease group and co-led the SIRT liver cancer program (Yttrium 90 microspheres) program at the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center.
Dr. Wahab’s research interests in the lab focus on the effects of antagonists of growth hormone releasing hormone on radiation, collaborating with Nobel laureate Andrew Schally's group to study their interaction with radiation. Clinical research interests include novel radio sensitizers and protectors and targeted therapies. She has authored or co-authored more than 100 articles and abstracts on her specialty interests in leading peer-reviewed medical journals. She has published chapters in medical textbooks on the results of her research and clinical experience. Dr. Wahab's prostate cancer book has been translated into Spanish and Chinese. She has lectured worldwide on her work in research and clinical practice at medical symposia, conferences and as a visiting professor.
Dr. Wahab is also a member of the American College of Radiology expert taskforce (appropriateness criteria) for prostate and rectal cancer. She is on the editorial board of several scientific journals and was a consultant and an advisor for the International Atomic Energy Agency. Dr. Wahab is a member and chair of several national and international committees. She is interested in healthcare disparities and connectivity in radiation oncology.
To make an appointment with Cleveland Clinic’s Pancreas Clinic, please call 866.798.7963. You can also visit us online at www.clevelandclinic.org/pancreasguide