Norton doctor first in Kentucky to offer groundbreaking pancreatic cancer treatment

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Life-changing cancer technology has arrived at Norton Healthcare for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Dr. William Evans III, a gastroenterologist with Norton Gastroenterology Consultants of Louisville, has become the first and only physician in Kentucky to deliver the endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation treatment to patients.

While it isn't a cure for pancreatic cancer, the treatment can help extend survival rates and improve quality of life for patients by "decreasing the overall treatment burden."

The treatment also offers new hope to patients with inoperable or difficult-to-treat tumors by providing a "targeted alternative" to managing tumor growth and symptoms, Norton said.

"It signals a milestone in cancer care across Kentucky, providing us a new tool in the fight against pancreatic cancer — one that's precise and safe for patients," Evans said in a news release Friday. "It opens the door to new possibilities for patients who previously had very few options."

According to a news release from Norton, the procedure combines endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

"With EUS, physicians use an endoscopic equipped with an ultrasound probe to capture real-time, high-resolution images of the gastrointestinal tract and surrounding organs, such as the pancreas and liver. This ultrasound guidance allows physicians to pinpoint exact locations within the body," Norton said in a news release.

Radiofrequency ablation delivers a "high-frequency alternating current that aims to destroy (ablate) cancerous tumors in the pancreas." Depending on the patient, experts said this process can "shrink or destroy the tumor."

When combined, Norton said, EUS and RFA "create a powerful tool."

"What makes this procedure so exciting is the combination of precision and minimal invasiveness," Evans said. "Real-time ultrasound guidance allows us to target tumors with remarkable accuracy while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. For patients who aren't candidates for surgery, this gives us a powerful option."

The $75,000 in funding for the technology was made possible by the Norton Healthcare Foundation, with support from the Connie Erickson Foundation.

Norton said pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It also remains one of the most challenging cancers to treat because many patients are already in an advanced stage of the cancer when they're diagnosed.

To learn more about the new technology, or request an appointment for the treatment, click here.

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Norton doctor first in Kentucky to offer groundbreaking pancreatic cancer treatment