Whipple For Neuroendocrine Tumor??

Hi. I have a non functional neuroendocrine tumor on my pancreatic head. I just found out i have to have the whipple anyway, even though they keep telling me this is the GOOD kind of cancer!! I am just wondering if anyone has heard of any other way to eradicate these tumors, and if anyone here has tried juicing or wheatgrass or other alternative methods to shrink their tumor? I am a professional blues musician and I travel all over the world for my job. I am worried now that after the whipple, I wont be able to take the long hours in the van driving from town to town and all the flying that I do. I am scared to death to have this whipple. I am 46, 5'5 and weigh 240 lbs. I am worried I will die on the table because I am fat. Is there anyone here who has had a neuroendocrine tumor? is there anyone here who is fat and had a successful whipple? please write to me! --Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--

the Whipple is the best choice when the tumor is on the head.  It should  be cureative.  Its major surgery which takes awhile to recover from, but it can be done.  Dont worry about all the negatives but focus on the positive...you will be cancer free !

My husband was heavy when he had a Whipple and he did just fine. He did lose weight during recovery but because he had excess weight to spare, he didn't become weak and his recovery was rapid. Keep a positive attitude. And good luck to you.

Candye,  

I had Whipple surgery in 2002.  One thing I can tell you is there are lots of people on the surgical team and they watch you very closely both during and after the surgery. The anestheologist monitors you constantly. You will be in intensive care for at least a couple of days following surgery, again under close watchful care.  

I understand how scary it is to face this surgery, but I hope you will follow the Doctor's recommendations.  I have seen lots of people looking for an alternative cures or treatments, and there are lots of people out there that have different opinions, but one thing I know for sure is that if there was an herbal remedy, the doctors would be using it.  Really, the only curative path is surgery.

Your age is an advantage.  It should make it easier for you to recover more quickly.  The doctors have probably told you about weight loss.  It almost always happens with Whipple surgery.  I was able to drive and return to work about 10 weeks following surgery.  I don't think I would have been up for long distance travel for a year or so. I was 50 at time of surgery and  other than finding I had PC, was strong, no other serious health issues.

I don't know a lot about your type of tumor.  I think the general idea is that it is completely curable if caught in time. You may want to look up info. on Steve Jobs of Apple Computers.  He had the same type tumor as you and he actually tried alternative treatment for several months (special diet etc.). It didn't work for him, and he ended up having the Whipple surgery.  His take now is it saved his life and he is cancer free.

Best wishes to you.  Hope all turns out good for you.       

hello, thanks so very much your kind response to this message. you have put my mind at ease so much. I really appreciate the gift of your time and your candor. kindest regards, candye

On 3/26/2008 AliveInOldeTown wrote:

Candye,  

I had Whipple surgery in 2002.  One thing I can tell you is there are lots of people on the surgical team and they watch you very closely both during and after the surgery. The anestheologist monitors you constantly. You will be in intensive care for at least a couple of days following surgery, again under close watchful care.  

I understand how scary it is to face this surgery, but I hope you will follow the Doctor's recommendations.  I have seen lots of people looking for an alternative cures or treatments, and there are lots of people out there that have different opinions, but one thing I know for sure is that if there was an herbal remedy, the doctors would be using it.  Really, the only curative path is surgery.

Your age is an advantage.  It should make it easier for you to recover more quickly.  The doctors have probably told you about weight loss.  It almost always happens with Whipple surgery.  I was able to drive and return to work about 10 weeks following surgery.  I don't think I would have been up for long distance travel for a year or so. I was 50 at time of surgery and  other than finding I had PC, was strong, no other serious health issues.

I don't know a lot about your type of tumor.  I think the general idea is that it is completely curable if caught in time. You may want to look up info. on Steve Jobs of Apple Computers.  He had the same type tumor as you and he actually tried alternative treatment for several months (special diet etc.). It didn't work for him, and he ended up having the Whipple surgery.  His take now is it saved his life and he is cancer free.

Best wishes to you.  Hope all turns out good for you.       

Thanks so much for your response. It means a lot to me. xo candye

Thanks so much for your message and for making me feel like being fat is an advantage! i hope your husband is doing well. xo candye

I had the neuroendocrine tumor in the head of my pancreas.  I had a whipple 12-06 and the cancer was also in 3 lymph nodes and a spot on my liver.  I was overweight.  I think that is to our advantage, because you can go a long time with out much to eat.  I have now gained back all my weight, yuck!!!  I agree the whipple is the only way.  I was seeing an alternative doctor for other reasons, but was too tired to fight any more.  There is a lot to recovery, but I am thankful I am still alive.  dawnella

 

Candye,

I had my Whipple done for the same type of tumor last summer.  Overall, my experience was much better than I expected based on the research done before the surgery.  I spent 10 days in the hospital, started driving two days after the discharge, returned to work five weeks after the surgery.  I lost about 20% of my body weight, 10% immediately after the surgery and 10% within a couple of months following it.

A few things that I believe make a huge difference:

1) Be prepared emotionally: it's going to be tough, but it is doable.  I think part of the reason I did well was that I had no choice and I gave myself 5 weeks to recover, period.

2) Push yourself a little bit.  The docs will encourage you to start moving on Day 2 (sitting in bed first, walking on the floor after that).  You may feel not ready yet, but do try to do a little bit more than you think you can handle.  Your body will thank you for that.

3) Make sure you have the surgery at a good medical center.  The success rates vary dramatically for established centers and smaller hospitals.  I would make sure your surgeon does the Whipple at least once a week.

In regards to the alternative medicine: practice it to supplement the traditional methods.  Someone here mentioned Steve Jobs who had the same tumor a few years ago.  A less know fact is that initially he didn't want to have a surgery either.  He tried the alternative medicine for about 9 months and had to do his surgery anyways.  Well, he is a Buddhist, a vegetarian and, as I suspect, he has funds and access to do the latest and greatest medicine available.

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

Hi there, I am 34 years old female, had a whipple procedure done 4 1/2 weeks ago.  I also had a non-functional neuroendocrine tumor in the neck of my pancreas.  When I first found out, I like you was worried  all the time.  I saw an Aboriginal medicine man and I participated in a healing sweat ceremony where he applied natural radiation to the area.  The experience was phenomenal.  3 weeks later I had my surgery.  Surgery was the only best option for this type of tumor.  I too have been told, this is the "best" kind of tumor to have.  Not sure why.  But I think it's because we're lucky to be good candidates for the surgery.  I was thankful to the doctors and the team of nurses who took good care of me in the hospital.  I was in the hospital for 11 days, began walking after 3 days, began eating solid foods after 5 days.  I was 102 pounds before surgery, and only lost 10 pounds while in hospital.  Now at home, I am eating more now, feel so much better, but have been told not to do laundry or heavy lifting for at least 6-8 weeks.  I am a school teacher, so I don't think I will be back at work until September.  I am not able to drive a car yet, my incison hasn't quite healed yet.  The best advice I can give you is that it will be difficult the first 2 weeks after surgery.  Thank goodness for pain meds, I was on an epidural for 4 days, then on morphine, then was taking percocet, then T3's when discharged.  Good luck with everything!  When is your surgery?

Eriko