Whipple Procedure

I am interested in hearing from anyone who has had the whipple procedure and the results of the procedure.

If you are eligable for the Whipple, then your PC is localized, which is great news. The Whipple is the only cure for PC. It is a tough surgery with a long recovery time, but its your only hope. Make sure that the hospital where you have it done, does Whipple's on a regular basis, at least 5-10 a year. They have much better outcomes than those who do less.
God bless.

Hi,

Yes I had the Whipple procedure in September 2004. I was diagnosed with pancreas cancer in April 2004 and did chemo prior to the surgery to reduce the tumor. I had the surgery done by Dr. Joe Levi at the University of Miami Florida, the Hospital is Jackson Memorial. He does over 70 of these procedures a year and I also would recommend that you get someone that does a lot of these procedures. It is not an easy surgery so you want to have someone that has lots of experience with this procedure.

Please let me know if you have any more questions about the surgery.

Thanks,

Barry

My Dad had a Whipple and survived for 5 years before he got cancer again (bone). It gave him all those years and seemed to be well worth it. He did have a few problems after surgery. Stomach pain trouble eating and keeping food down etc... His doctor was Dr. Drehben from Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis Missouri. He would of died within 2 months if he did not have the surgery so it was worth it.

My husband was diagnosed in May 2005 with pancreatic cancer. The whipple was attempted in July 2005 but they had to stop the surgery because the cancer had gone to a lymph node. He had 4 treatments w/gemzar in Aug 2005 and Sept 2005. Oct 2005 was a 'free' month with no chemo -just 2 shots of heparin daily to try to shrink or dissolve the blood clot. Blood clot only got bigger. We tried to go on Tarseva last month but Medicare hadn't approved it & it's real expensive, so he took 3 weeks of Xelada. He's losing lots more weight now and getting weaker. They originally gave him 2 - 6 months - I'm afraid his time is almost up. He's lost 85 - 90 pounds altogether. If you're in or around Texas, the best man for a whipple procedure in Dr. Katz at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. He's amazing. Good luck to you and yours - this is the toughest thing we've been through in our lives.

My husband has a benign cyst that has been under observation for the past year. Local radiologists gave conflicting conclusions. Six months ago we went to MSKCC. It is a pre-malignant cluster(3) at this time in the right center portion of the pancreas. The surgeon feels that there is a 50/50 chance that the tumor will turn into a cancer, much the same as if a colon polyp is left alone. The right side where enzyme juices flow right to left is dilating with backflow because of the cyst/tumor location. After initial testing and six month follow up MRI with additional consult, a central pancreatectomy is to be performed. If this is not adequate at that time, a Whipple will be performed. As of now 40% of the pancreas will be removed, the left portion and right portion reattached, and the enzymes will flow to the intestines. Has anyone had a central pancreatectomy without going into the more invasive Whipple? Please advise if possible. Thank you.

I am a 19 year old female and had a whipples procedure 6 years ago at the age of 13. I had a benign tumour on the head of the pancreas, so surgery was the only option.Without that operation, i am certain i wouldnt be here today. I live life like any other teenager, and to look at me, you wouldnt guess that i had major surgery at that young age. the only complications i suffered was 2 attacks of pancreatitis,(as i still have the tail of it left) and weight loss. apart from that, i am as fit as can be expected and im looking forward to a long and healthy life. but please remember, there are always people who have gone through the same thing who are willing to talk and offer support. all the best, sarah

Dear Tambar: I do hope your husband is doing well. My husband will be having the Whipple on Jan. 5th at Presbyterian in Dallas, one of the Drs in Dr. Katz office will be doing the procedure. We feel very confident that this will go well. Am now looking at the Oncologists in our area so we can have our Dallas Dr. refer to our preference.
Is there anything/symptoms I should be looking for specifically post-op? Any post-op tips would be greatly appreciated.

Dear K L,
my mom had the whipple done on Sept.8, 2005, and it is a very tough, tough surgery. She was in surgery for 8 hours, hospital stay of 10 days. She will be finishing up her radiation treatments next week, a total of 28, 25 wide, and the last 3 will be directly on the cancer area, which was the head of the pancreas. She had her gall bladder removed, the dueodem, the head of the pancreas and 12 lymph nodes, of which 1 was diseased. She has also been going thru chemo, 2 weeks on, 1 week off. And after next weeks chemo treatment, her dr. is giving her about 3-4 weeks off of chemo, then starting it back up. She is taking gemsitibine. Her taste buds are gone, things that she loved before, she has no desire for now. If we can get 500 calories a day in her, we are having a good day. Last week she had and endoscopy done on her esophogus as she had a narrowing and things were sticking at the end of it, and while they were doing that, it was recommended that a PEG tube be put in her to try and help get more nutrition in her. Right now, things with mom are more mental than anything. She has lost a total of 74 lbs., sleeps quite a bit, very very fatigued. I know she feels like why am I doing all this, and I keep trying to encourage her that it will all be worth it in the long run. Her frustration level is probably at it's peak. The dr. suggested an anti depressant, and I said absolutely. This is my mom's second round of cancer. Four years ago she had stage IV melonoma, and against odds, came thru the surgery {2}, first one to have the melonoma removed, and then 32 lymph nodes removed. My Dad suffered with colon/liver cancer, and I have to say, this seems to be harder on my mom.
Lots of patience, encouragement from the family, the Drs., faith, hope will get you and your husband thru this. A strong family, being there for each other, as it tears you apart to see your loved one suffering, is so important.
Don't be afraid to ask questions to your dr., whether you've already asked them or not. And when your husband goes to the dr. for check ups, and any treatments he may have to have, if there is someone that can go with you, I would advise having that extra set of ears there, as all of this will become so overwhelming at times.
I do lots of internet research, so when a Dr. says this or that, I know what he's talking about, and can have the right question to ask.
Hang in there, and my very best to you & your husband.
Keep me informed on his surgery.
Lynne

My goodness, your Mom is having such a difficult time. I am so sorry. We are going into this surgery with a great attitude, and maybe a little naively, but we feel all will be well. We know the surgical recovery and chemo is bad, but we are keeping an optimistic attitude. Right now, we are working on getting my husband as strong as possible for the surgery. As much protein as he will eat, and his preference is carbohydrates. I'm starting him on vitamins, especially C, as I've heard that promotes healing. He drinks a lot of V8 and a Boost everyday. He hates the Boost, but Ensure doesn't look like it tastes any better. We don't have much time to build him up, but we are trying. We caught this fairly quickly we think, but it is still 4 weeks between diagnosis and surgery. I wish I had someone else to take to Dr. appts, I think that is a very good idea.
Do you have other siblings that help you? How is your father? Will keep your mom in prayers, K