New advances at Hoag are offering promising treatment options to pancreatic cancer patients in Orange County and beyond.
“At Hoag, our multidisciplinary team of experts work together to determine the pancreatic cancer treatment option best suited to each individual patient based on their genetics, the progress of their disease and other factors unique to them,” said Carlos Becerra, medical director of Cancer Research for Hoag Family Cancer Institute and a board-certified medical oncologist focusing on gastrointestinal cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
These treatments can include early phase clinical trials and innovative surgical treatment options that can only be found at only the top medical institutes in the world – including Hoag.
Turning the tables on pancreatic cancer involves:
Enlisting the Best
Hoag has some of the best patient outcomes in the nation. Hoag’s surgical team includes Ronald Wolf, M.D., medical director of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery and Jared Forrester, M.D., who both specialize in minimally invasive and robotic approaches.
In addition to progressive surgical options, Hoag’s full array of non-surgical options leverages its world-class team of radiation oncologists, specialized medical oncologists, advanced endoscopists and genetic counselors. Hoag’s commitment to patient care has also made it a powerhouse of cutting-edge technology, with such innovations as the ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator, the most advanced radiation treatment available in the United States. Hoag is one of only a handful of centers in the country offering this technology and has administered more than 2,000 MRIdian treatments to patients since its inception in 2020.
Hoag is also pleased to offer patients a number of clinical trials led by our physicians. “Our comprehensive team offers the most innovative treatment options available, including Phase 1 clinical trials that cannot be found anywhere else in the region,” Dr. Becerra said. “Our focus is on early detection and extending patients’ quality of life.”
Focusing on Risk Factors
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States, but if cancer is caught early enough this deadly cancer can be cured.
The Anita Erickson Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Program at Hoag is one of the only early-detection programs in the country, and the first in Southern California to help people identify their risk and focus on detecting early stage cancer through labs, imaging and genetic testing. Led by a multidisciplinary team of specialists including a geneticist, genetic counselors, gastroenterologists and GI surgeons, the early detection program supports all aspects of care, including diagnosis and treatment.
“Some risk factors are not necessarily genetic,” Dr. Becerra said “For instance, being obese or smoking increases your risk of developing the disease. New-onset or uncontrolled diabetes, or chronic pancreatitis can also be a warning that you are at increased risk and should seek expert care.”
Identifying Genetic Red Flags
If two members of your immediate family, including parents, siblings or children have had pancreatic cancer, or if you have genetic disorders or mutations known to increase pancreatic cancer risk such as BRCA mutations, your comprehensive care team at Hoag may recommend regular surveillance and testing to minimize the risk that pancreatic cancer will be able to grow undetected.
Skilled, compassionate genetic counselors at Hoag’s Hereditary Cancer Program work with patients to identify whether they have any of known genetic mutations that increase a person’s risk of disease. The team then reviews their assessment with each individual patient, setting them on a course of personalized care that could involve increased monitoring, enrolling in a clinical trial or other tailored options.
“Hoag’s multidisciplinary team truly works together to ensure that every aspect of every patient’s care is uniquely appropriate to the individual,” Dr. Becerra said.
