Pancreatic Cancer
Treatment in Malaysia
At Onco Life Centre, our team takes a personalized approach to treating pancreatic cancer. We focus not only on providing Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in Malaysia, but also on supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our patients every step of the way.
Understanding the Pancreas: Its Structure and Functions
The pancreas is a pear-shaped gland located between the stomach and the spine. It is made up of 2 major components:
The exocrine component is made up of ducts and small sacs and makes enzymes that are released into the small intestine to help the body digest food, particularly fats.
The endocrine component is made up of islets of Langerhans and makes specific hormones like insulinoma, glucagonoma, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).
Why Choose Onco Life Centre?
Expertise You Can Trust, Innovation You Can Count On
Over 20 Years of
Experience
Our highly-qualified consultant oncologists boast extensive experience treating a vast array of cancers. Their training at prestigious institutions in Australia and the UK ensures exceptional expertise that you can trust.
Collaboration with
Leading Genomics Experts
For complex cases, our oncologists collaborate with leading genomics specialists in the US. This ensures access to the latest treatments for all cancer types.
Unmatched
patient experience
You and your healthcare experience are at the centre of what we do at Onco Life Centre. Our core values of Empathy, Dedication, Professionalism and Service Quality have driven us since our earliest days.
Treatment Methods
Pancreatic cancer is treatable. In order to tailor your treatment plan, our pancreatic cancer oncologists at Onco Life Centre will review factors such as your pre-existing medical conditions, your overall health and nutritional status, as well as potential treatment side effects. When detected at an early stage, pancreatic cancer has a much higher chance of being successfully treated. However, there are also treatments that can help control the disease for patients with advanced stage pancreatic cancer to help them live longer.
Surgery for pancreatic cancer
Surgery for pancreatic cancer includes removing all or part of the pancreas,depending on the location and size of the tumor in the pancreas. A key goal of surgery is to have clear margins. Only about 20% of patients with pancreatic cancer are able to have surgery because most pancreatic cancers are first diagnosed when the disease has already spread. Surgery for pancreatic cancer may be combined with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, called adjuvant therapy. These treatments may sometimes be used before surgery to shrink a tumor. This is called neoadjuvant therapy.
Read More About Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer
Radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer
External-beam radiation therapy is the type of radiation therapy used most often for pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy may be given at the same time as radiation therapy because it can enhance the effects of the radiation therapy, which is called radio sensitization. Combining chemotherapy and radiation therapy may occasionally help shrink the tumor enough so it can be removed by surgery.
Chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by stopping the cancer cells ability to grow and divide. A chemotherapy regimen usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time. There is usually a rest period in between cycles. There are generally more side effects when 2 or more drugs are used together.
Combination treatments are usually best for patients who are able to carry out their usual activities of daily living without help.
For pancreatic cancer, chemotherapy may be described by when and how it is given. First-line chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer is generally the first treatment used for patients with either locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Second-line chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer is used when treatment does not work or stops working to control cancer growth.
Sometimes, first-line treatment does not work at all, which is called primary resistance. Or, treatment may work well for a while and then stop being effective later, which is sometimes called secondary or acquired resistance.
Targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer
Targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer is a treatment that targets the cancers specific genes, proteins or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells.
To match your pancreatic cancer disease with the most effective treatment, our oncologist at Onco Life Centre may run tumor profiling tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor. EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor blocks the effect of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, and this helps to block cancer growth and spread.
Please click here to learn more about Targeted Therapy.
Immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer
Immunotherapy drugs called checkpoint inhibitors can be used for patients whose pancreatic cancer cells have tested positive for specific gene changes, such as a high level of microsatellite instability (MSI-H), or changes in one of the mismatch repair (MMR) genes.
PD-1 inhibitor targets PD-1, a checkpoint protein on immune system cells called T cells, that normally helps keep these cells from attacking normal cells in the body. By blocking PD-1, this immunotherapy drug boosts the immune response against pancreatic cancer cells, and is highy likely able to shrink the tumor.
Treatment By Stage
Guiding Your Personalized Treatment Journey
Potentially curable pancreatic cancer (resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer)
Removal of the tumor and nearby lymph nodes if there are no signs that the disease has grown beyond the pancreas or spread to other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy, with or without radiation, to try to shrink the tumor and increase the chance of curative surgery.
Adjuvant chemotherapy usually starts within 8 weeks after surgery, based on how quickly a patient recovers. The option to use radiation therapy after surgery.
Locally advanced pancreatic cancer
Chemotherapy with a combination of drugs can be used depending on each patients situation and overall health. Radiation therapy may be used, most often after chemotherapy if the cancer has not spread beyond the pancreas.
If the disease worsens during or after first-line treatment, options may include a different line of chemotherapy.
Metastatic pancreatic cancer
If cancer spreads to another part in the body from where it started, doctors call it metastatic cancer. Your treatment plan may include a combination of the treatments discussed above. Talk to our oncologists about your first and second line treatment options, which can heavily depend on your overall health and preferences.
Palliative care will also be important to help relieve symptoms and side effects. For most patients, a diagnosis of metastatic cancer is very stressful and, at times, difficult to bear. Patients and their families have opportunities to talk about the way they are feeling with our oncologists, nurses, counselors, or join our psychosocial program and support group.
Transparency You Can Trust
At Onco Life Centre, we understand the financial burden associated with Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in Malaysia. We are committed to transparency and will provide you with a personalized cost estimate during your initial consultation. Here is an estimate:
Chemotherapy:
At Onco Life Centre, the cost for treating pancreatic cancer using chemotherapy for most of our patients is around MYR4,000 per cycle.
Targeted Therapy:
Adding in Targeted Therapy can go up from MYR6,000, depending on the specific type of targeted therapy drug used.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy can range from MYR10,000 and above depending on the specific type and dosage of immunotherapy drug used.
Types of pancreatic cancer
There are several types of pancreatic cancer, depending on whether the cancer began in the exocrine or endocrine component. Rarely, other types of cancer can begin in the pancreas, such as lymphoma and sarcoma.
Exocrine tumors
Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of exocrine tumor. Rare types of exocrine pancreatic tumors include acinar cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, colloid carcinoma, giant cell tumor, serous cyst adenoma, signetring cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma.
Endocrine tumors
These are also called pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) and make up 1% of pancreatic cancers. A PNET can be functioning or non-functioning. A functioning PNET is named based on the hormone produced such as insulinoma, glucagonoma and VIPomas
FAQ
What is the most successful treatment for pancreatic cancer?
Each stage of pancreatic cancer requires a different approach to treatment. Here’s a quick overview:
Stage 1 Pancreatic Cancer: At this early stage, surgery is often possible, followed by chemotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Stage 2 Pancreatic Cancer: Treatment usually involves surgery, along with chemotherapy or chemoradiation to target remaining cancer cells.
Stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer: Since the cancer may have spread to nearby blood vessels, surgery may not be an option. Chemotherapy and radiation are typically used to control the disease.
Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer: At this advanced stage, treatment focuses on prolonging life and relieving symptoms through chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and palliative care.
We recommend discussing your specific condition with our oncologists to explore the best treatment strategy for your stage.
Has anyone recovered from pancreatic cancer?
Yes, there are pancreatic cancer patients who have recovered, particularly if the cancer was detected early, before it had spread beyond the pancreas.
How long can you live with pancreatic cancer without treatment?
The prognosis for pancreatic cancer without receiving any treatment varies depending on the cancer stage, the overall health of the patient, and the specific characteristics of the tumor. Generally, as pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease, the disease can progress very fast and spread to other parts of the body in a matter of months.
How fast does pancreatic cancer go from stage 1 to stage 4?
The progression of pancreatic cancer from stage 1 to stage 4 can vary significantly among individuals. An aggressive pancreatic cancer can advance from stage 1 to stage 4 within months. Stage 4 pancreatic cancer means that the cancer has spread or metastasized to distant organs such as the liver or lungs, resulting in severe disease progression.
Your Journey
Start Your Recovery
Our dedicated Patient Navigator will assist you with appointment scheduling. Contact us at +6012-3993260 (Call or Whatsapp ).
First Consultation
On appointment day, bring along all the medical reports and your identity documents, ie. identity card or passport. Our team will help you organize the medical reports for our oncologist to review. Our oncologist will discuss the treatment plan with you. Tele-consult is available for overseas patients.
Treatment Day
Come to our center on an agreed date and time for the treatment. Our team will take good care of you. You will be discharged on the same day. Yes, you will get to go home after every treatment visit as no overnight admission is required.
Stay on Track
Our dedicated patient navigator will be following up with you post treatment to check on your condition, to ensure that you are doing well. You will receive a reminder message on your phone for the next appointment date.
Hello, I’m Dr. Christina Ng Van Tze, a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Medical Director at Onco Life Centre, as well as the Founder President of Empowered The Cancer Advocacy Society of Malaysia. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about advancing personalized cancer treatment, strengthening community advocacy, and expanding access to high-quality care for patients across Malaysia.
Attending the ESMO Congress 2025 in Berlin was both inspiring and energizing. Representing Onco Life Centre, our dedicated medical centre in Malaysia, I stood among global leaders committed to shaping the future of oncology. This year’s congress was filled with remarkable scientific breakthroughs, thoughtful discussions, and a renewed sense of purpose as we work toward better outcomes and better lives for our patients.
A Global Gathering Focused on Precision Cancer Care
ESMO 2025 brought together thousands of clinicians, researchers, and advocates from around the world. What made this year particularly exciting was the strong emphasis on precision medicine, from cancer genetics and molecular profiling to advanced imaging and AI-powered diagnostic tools. These advancements are aligning closely with the work we do at Onco Life Centre, where patient individuality and tumor biology guide our treatment decisions.
Throughout the congress, many experts highlighted the importance of understanding each patient’s tumor in greater depth. Whether through genomic sequencing, circulating tumor DNA, or radiomic analyses, the oncology community is moving firmly toward personalized strategies. As someone who has long championed individualized care, I found these sessions especially meaningful.
Key Scientific Sessions That Inspired Me
One of the standout presentations was the evERA BC trial, a major study evaluating the combination of giredestrant, an oral SERD, with an mTOR inhibitor drug in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The results showed a significant improvement in progression-free survival, especially in tumors driven by ESR1 mutations. For patients who have progressed on CDK4/6 inhibitors, this combination may become an essential addition to our treatment toolbox.
This study also supports a larger movement within oncology—creating thoughtful, layered treatment plans that address resistance pathways and extend the time patients can remain on endocrine-based therapies. It’s a direction that can profoundly benefit Malaysian women, many of whom are diagnosed at younger ages or have aggressive tumor profiles.
Insights from the thoracic oncology sessions were equally impactful. Advances in lung cancer, including AI-driven pathology models, updated ALK-targeted treatment strategies, and ctDNA-guided therapy adjustments, reminded me just how quickly this field is evolving. Given the increasing prevalence of lung cancer in Malaysia, especially among non-smokers and women, these developments hold tremendous value for our community.
The Role of AI in Transforming Clinical Practice
One major theme across the congress was the integration of artificial intelligence into clinical decision-making. Researchers demonstrated how AI models can analyze pathology slides, radiology images, and genomic data to predict which patients are more likely to respond to immunotherapy or targeted treatment. These tools help us avoid ineffective therapies and guide patients toward options with the most tremendous potential.
At Onco Life Centre, we have been exploring the use of digital technologies to streamline assessments and enhance patient monitoring. Seeing the global oncology community embrace these tools assures me that we are moving in the right direction. I hope that AI will continue to improve early detection, refine treatment selection, and ultimately support better survival outcomes for Malaysian patients.
Representing Onco Life Centre on the International Stage
Representing Onco Life Centre at an event of this scale was a true honor. Our centre has always focused on delivering holistic, science-driven care, and it was wonderful to share our experiences with colleagues from around the world. I had meaningful conversations about challenges related to access to molecular testing globally, variability in treatment availability, and the need for stronger psycho-oncology support systems.
These interactions not only validated the work we do but also highlighted areas where we can continue to grow. Bringing international insights back to Malaysia ensures that our patients benefit from the same cutting-edge thinking shaping care in Europe, America, and beyond.
Bringing ESMO Insights Home to Malaysia
Returning from Berlin, I feel a renewed commitment to integrating the latest research into our daily practice. In the coming months, we aim to:
- Enhance our use of molecular profiling for breast, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers
- Expand ctDNA testing where appropriate to guide treatment decisions
- Strengthen multidisciplinary discussions for complex cases
- Continue investing in supportive care and psycho-oncology services
- Provide patients and families with clearer, more personalized education about treatment choices
As a clinician, I believe that every advancement, no matter how technical, must ultimately translate into compassionate, human-centered care. This balance of science and empathy remains at the core of our mission.
A Future of Hope and Collaboration
ESMO 2025 reaffirmed what I’ve always believed: oncology is advancing rapidly, but meaningful progress relies on collaboration, continuous learning, and a deep commitment to patient care. I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunity to represent Onco Life Centre on this global platform. Being part of these critical conversations strengthens our mission to raise the standard of oncology in Malaysia. It ensures our patients benefit from the latest, most effective innovations in cancer care.
Moving forward, we will continue engaging with global partners, conducting meaningful advocacy through Empowered, and ensuring our patients receive the highest standard of personalized treatment.
Together, we can build a future where every individual facing cancer feels seen, supported, and empowered.
Onco Life Centre Wins 2025 Best Oncology Clinic in Malaysia
We are proud to share that Onco Life Centre has been named the Oncology Clinic and Treatment Centre of the Year in Malaysia at the GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, held in Bangkok.
This prestigious recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering personalized, compassionate, and cutting-edge cancer care to our patients. The award reflects not just our clinical excellence, but our dedication to safety, community outreach, and innovation in oncology services.
The GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific Awards celebrate leading healthcare institutions across the region. Winners are chosen based on a comprehensive evaluation of criteria such as:
Excellence and Innovation: Transforming healthcare delivery and patient outcomes through progressive medical practices.
Patient Safety: Upholding the highest standards to ensure safe, comfortable, and effective treatment environments.
Community Involvement: Actively engaging in public awareness, screening programs, and care for underprivileged communities.
Technology Adoption: Integrating advanced diagnostics, therapies, and digital tools to enhance every aspect of care.
Impact and Measurable Results: Demonstrating tangible improvements in cancer detection, treatment success, and patient well-being.
Adaptability and Preparedness: Being resilient and forward-thinking in the face of global health challenges.
Leadership and Vision: Cultivating a culture that prioritizes empathy, innovation, and ongoing education.
This award inspires us to continue raising the bar in oncology care—not only through medical advancements but by remaining deeply rooted in our advocacy mission: to serve, educate, and empower every cancer patient, especially those most in need.
We dedicate this achievement to our patients, survivors, caregivers, and the entire Onco Life Centre community. Your courage fuels our purpose. Together, we will continue the fight—because every life matters.
NSCLC (Non-small cell lung cancer)
2010 Breast and Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign (LEMBAH PANTAI)
2011 Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Community Project (GOMBAK AND SELAYANG)
2011 & 2012 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Community Project (SETAPAK)
2012 Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Community Project (LEMBAH SUBANG)
2014 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Community Project (CHERAS)
2015 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Project (HILIRAN AMPANG)
2016 Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Screening and Treatment Project (DESA TUN RAZAK)
Credentials You Can Trust
Ministry of Health Malaysia
Onco Life Centre is fully licensed as an Oncology Consultation and Treatment Centre (License No: 931401-00214-03/2024)
DR. CHRISTINA NG VAN TZE
CONSULTANT MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST (NSR: 131550)
MBBS (MELB), FELLOW RACP (AUS)
DR. JOSEPH KANIANTHRA JOSEPH
CONSULTANT MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST (NSR: 124660)
MBBCH, BAO (IRE), MRCP (UK)
Service Area
Onco Life Centre location
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