Seeking Advice On Accepting Surgery

I am 51 and was told mid February that I had pancreatic cancer. I was obese, 20 stone but have now am only 12 stone. I have type 2 diabetes and hypertension, both treated by tablets. But otherwise healthy. I was told that size wise my tumour was on the borderline as regards surgery option, and that a number of lymp nodes were seen to be enlarged also

Bottom line was I was told surgery/treatement was not advised and to make the most of the 6 months I had left.

Start of April I had further test, ultrascan down the throat when biopsy was taken from pancreas. Today I see consultant surgeon (re this test I assume) and tomorrow I have been booked for assessment consulation for my "forthcoming surgery"  I have been told nothing about this, possible what today's appointment is to tell me.

The doctor telling me that surgery was not an option was a senior register, as the consultant surgeon was out of the country at that time and it would appear to me that the consultant surgeon has reached a different conclusion. I am very concerned that it is a 'close call' with even higher risk factors than normal and am scared as to best way to proceed.  Any advice most welcome :)

If the surgeon has reviewed your test data and feels you are a candidate for Whipple surgery, it usually means the opinion is they can completely remove the tumor.  Whipple surgery is the only curative treatment for PC. If they are offering surgery, they are offering a chance for a cure.

I had the surgery at age 50, a little over five years ago.  It is tough, it takes time to recover and as many people on this board have pointed out, you won't ever get back to what was "normal" when you were healthy.  I have good quality of life, eat almost anything I want without problems, walk between 4-5 miles every morning and enjoy staying busy in my gardens.

Surgery of any type is frightening but try not to let fear affect your decision. Whipple is one of the most serious surgeries out there.  Your age, and the fact you say you are otherwise healthy are in your favor.

Best wishes for good results.

 

On 4/28/2008 eddied wrote:

I am 51 and was told mid February that I had pancreatic cancer. I was obese, 20 stone but have now am only 12 stone. I have type 2 diabetes and hypertension, both treated by tablets. But otherwise healthy. I was told that size wise my tumour was on the borderline as regards surgery option, and that a number of lymp nodes were seen to be enlarged also

Bottom line was I was told surgery/treatement was not advised and to make the most of the 6 months I had left.

Start of April I had further test, ultrascan down the throat when biopsy was taken from pancreas. Today I see consultant surgeon (re this test I assume) and tomorrow I have been booked for assessment consulation for my "forthcoming surgery"  I have been told nothing about this, possible what today's appointment is to tell me.

The doctor telling me that surgery was not an option was a senior register, as the consultant surgeon was out of the country at that time and it would appear to me that the consultant surgeon has reached a different conclusion. I am very concerned that it is a 'close call' with even higher risk factors than normal and am scared as to best way to proceed.  Any advice most welcome :)

Hi and good luck - whatever your decision is.

I had the Whipple done Aug 2006, 2 weeks shy of my 60th birthday. My Doctor told me it was my only chance at survival and that the operation itself might kill me (mine was 8 hours). Well, I trusted her to no end, and here I am today...... Still fighting, but still here.

I had a tumor on the head of the pancreas and a little "leakage" to the lymph nodes. They got it all at that time and I have done radiation for 6 weeks and am still on Chemo (IV and started an oral one 6 weeks ago).

Personally, I'd go for the surgery. If you truly trust your Doctor, go for it.... It's an unknown, but if all goes well, it sure as hell beats a 6 month outlook.

God bless and a speedy recovery (but like the other poster said, we nver really get back to normal, but we feel good and we are here enjoying LIFE....... 

 

Thanks for replies.

Update re yeterday's appointment.

Previous CT Scan showed tumour was too close to blood vessel in my pranceas to permit surgery and lymph nodes local to pancreas were enlarged, other nodes, further away was even more enlarged - 1.0 and 1.5cm.

The latest test, (down throat Ultrascan) showed that it was not as close as thought, opening up the option for Whipple Procedure. Biopsy result negative for cancer, as were brushings taken during an ERCP, so fact that I have cancer not yet confirmed, still showing as 90% likely. It was explained how this was hard sample to actually obtain sick cells in.

It also showed that lymph nodes local to my pancreas were not enlarged, BUT, the Doctor performing test was not able to see the others that were not in the pancreas area, from where he was working, but surgeon seemed unworried about this. Should I be?

Assuming no problems are found at pre assesment clinic today, they want me to go in for Whipple middle of next week.

 

 

On 4/29/2008 eddied wrote:

Thanks for replies.

Update re yeterday's appointment.

Previous CT Scan showed tumour was too close to blood vessel in my pranceas to permit surgery and lymph nodes local to pancreas were enlarged, other nodes, further away was even more enlarged - 1.0 and 1.5cm.

The latest test, (down throat Ultrascan) showed that it was not as close as thought, opening up the option for Whipple Procedure. Biopsy result negative for cancer, as were brushings taken during an ERCP, so fact that I have cancer not yet confirmed, still showing as 90% likely. It was explained how this was hard sample to actually obtain sick cells in.

It also showed that lymph nodes local to my pancreas were not enlarged, BUT, the Doctor performing test was not able to see the others that were not in the pancreas area, from where he was working, but surgeon seemed unworried about this. Should I be?

Assuming no problems are found at pre assesment clinic today, they want me to go in for Whipple middle of next week.

 

The surgeon who performed my Whipple told me it was almost impossible to get a biopsy before the surgery because of the location of the pancreas.  The first biopsy done at the hospital of the tumor that was removed in my case came back benign.  It is common procedure here to send tissue to a regional center that specializes in detailed examination and biopsy.  In my case, the second examination of the tissue showed early stage pancreatic cancer.  The doctors told me that it is rare for a pancreatic tumor to be benign, almost always they are cancer.  They also do biopsies of lymph nodes in surrounding area, and liver biopsies during the surgery.  All of mine came back clean.  

Sounds to me, and I am not in the medical profession, that your circumstances  may be similar to mine.  If yes, the surgery will give you a chance to be cancer free.  

The important thing now is to prepare for the surgery.  Build up your strength as much as possible.  The surgeon told me to eat as much as I could, and to try and stay calm prior to surgery.  So, try not to worry.

I hope you get good results.  Still sending best wishes.