Two questions: How long do people survive after Whipple procedure? Can you still be athletic after Whipple Procedure?

December 10, 2007 - Stage 2 ampullary carcinoma.  The tumor had eaten into three of the five layers of the duodenum.  No spread to nodes. 

59 years old at the time and extremely active.  Pyloric-saving whipple.  10 days in the hospital.  Re-entered the hopital two days later as I had stomach paresis.  An enormous bout of vomit dehydrated me, but ended the paresis, which was the lowest point in the whipple experience. 

Five or six weeks of gemsar, followed by six weeks of xeloda and radiation. I exercised at least once a week throughout the chemo and radiation therapy.  Three kilometers on cross country skis on Fridays was like enduring a four hour marathon. 

The only residual internal effect of the odyssey is intestinal pain and discomfort, if I don't remember to take my daily prilosec (omeprazole at COSTCO).  A wise recommendation from my radiation oncologist.

Today, the Livestrong wristband is the only outward sign that I have some link to cancer. I don't cross country ski as fast as I used to.  The skiers who used to beat me, still do, only by more now. 

And, I can't ride my bike on my four hour weekend routes with the prior times.  But, I am still athletic. My spouse and I are planning to ride the Pilgrimage of Santiago this coming Spring.

If you are an ampullary carcinoma survivor, you can be atheletic to the end, which hopefully will be 30 to 40 years from now for all of us in my age bracket.

Quill,

  I think I remember reading your posts a while back.  Do you remember if you had well, moderately, poorly differentiated?  Any perineural invasion or lymphatic (not same as in nodes)?  Do you know if it was intestinal, pancreatic or other tissue type?  Congrats on 4 years!  I am at 17 mos, had Xeloda and radiation with 5 Fu bookends.  I have been active throughout and the quality of the surgeon is probably a factor as is how well we take care of ourselves, exercise being a good thing.  I was 53 at diagnosis, also had pylorus preserving version and had been very fit going into the surgery/illness.  I like your attitude about a very long life, I want to think of myself as only about halfway through this journey called life!  There is so much I am yet to experience!  For those newly facing a whipple it is very important to find a highly qualified whipple surgeon and facility very familiar with it, not your local facility.  There are plenty of surgeons who have done over a hundred in about a year or two...  J in NH

I had the whipple done on Feb 9 and released from the hospital Feb 19. I am truly thankful to the LORD. I will start chemo/rad maybe in two weeks. 28 treatments. then chemo again after a rest. I am glad to read what you all are saying. Does anyone have any favorite foods or favorite drinks that help maintain weight without a lot of sugar. I would love to hear. Thanks.

try eggs, peanuts,steak,and any high protein foods, also pasta this was info that i was told by kings college hospital in london after i underwent the whipples procedure .. its working for me.. i think its true to say that this was an epic operation, 9 hours on the slab it takes some time to recover from it.. i lost nearly 30% body weight .. lucky for me i was a chunky size pre op otherwise there would be nothing left of me now .. good luck to all of you out there in the same boat ..