At Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, our goal is to provide our patients
with state-of-the-art treatment for pancreatic cancer without compromising
on the compassion and personal touch our hospital is known for. What sets
our hospital apart from other pancreatic treatment centers is our access
to clinical trials and cutting-edge anti-cancer drugs, which has earned
our Cancer Care Center the accreditation from the American College of
Surgeons, Commission on Cancer.
In addition, our leading-edge technology, such as the Trilogy System or
Tomotherapy machine, provides ultra-precise radiation treatment quickly
and effectively-ensuring highly-aggressive treatment with little to no
damage to surrounding tissue. To ensure that our patients receive the
most well-rounded treatment possible, our physicians meet once a week
to discuss specific treatment plans, combining their years of experience
and expertise to provide the best possible medical care.
Through the power of state-of-the-art technology, access to cutting-edge
medication, and our highly-experienced doctors, PVHMC's Cancer Care Center
provides our pancreatic cancer patients with the best possible treatment
and outcomes.
For more information on Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center's Cancer
Care Center, please call
909.865.9555.
About Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is a large organ located between the stomach and the spine,
which is why it is difficult to locate a tumor without diagnostic tools.
The pancreas is responsible for releasing enzymes that serve several vital
functions-it helps the body absorb foods, break down fat, and create insulin
and glucagon, which helps the body control blood sugar levels.
Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer has few early symptoms. It is often diagnosed
well before any symptoms manifest. In some cases, pancreatic tumors develop
near the bile duct, which leads to jaundice (yellowing of the skin and
eyes). This may actually benefit patients in the long run, as it alerts
doctors sooner to the possibility of tumors in the pancreas.
The few symptoms that do occur include:
Appetite loss
Weight loss
Abdominal pain
High blood sugar
Fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
The Types of Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas has two glands: exocrine and endocrine. The exocrine gland
produces digestive enzymes, and the endocrine gland produces insulin,
glucagon, and somatostatin-essential to blood sugar regulation. Of all
pancreatic tumors, 95 percent are exocrine tumors. Endocrine tumors, which
are far rarer, are also called neuroendocrine tumors or islet cell tumors.
Islet cell tumors have a subtype for every kind of hormone the endocrine
gland produces (i.e. insulinomas, glucagonomas, gastrinomas, etc.) Endocrine
tumors tend to develop more slowly than exocrine tumors and vary in form.
For example, endocrine tumors can be malignant or benign, or nonfunctional
or functional (meaning the tumor produces hormones). Most functional endocrine
tumors are benign, but 90 percent of nonfunctional endocrine tumors are
cancerous.
For more information about pancreatic cancer, how to cope with cancer treatment,
and other issues important to our patients, visit the following organizations'
websites for more information or come to the Cancer Care Center and visit our
Community Library.
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