Doctors have been reported to be making progress against one of the deadliest tumors, pancreatic cancer which is said to end the lives of 6% of its patients.

Despite the absence of a cure, a new drug combination has been discovered to assist patients in living longer for months than the usual therapy. However, researchers have stated that more studies will be done to provide patients with better alternatives.

A French study of 342 patients has revealed that the new combination of four drugs, Folfirinox, that is being taken by patients who have survived for 11.1 to 4.3 months, has been confirmed to fight other types of cancer, which is longer than those chemotherapy is being used on.

Study author Thierry Conroy, stated that though Folfirinox had more severe side effects than the usual chemotherapy, patients still rated their “quality of life higher” as Folfirinox may have prevented their tumors from causing severe side effects, like; pain, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Cancer specialist Gauri Varadhachary of Houston's M. D. Anderson Cancer Center has expressed that the new drug is will excite the patients and doctors are changing their practice following the study.