Pancreatic Cancer - need help finding the right Doctor/Hospital.

Good morning all - My boyfriend's father is just newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  We are in the very early stages of discovery and trying to gather as much information as possible.  One of the questions is where to go.  We do not know yet if it is operable - or non-operable.  His family is in Northern PA and Albany - we are in NYC.  We've been reading a lot about Johns Hopkins.  Surprisingly, we have not seen much on Sloane or NY Presbyterian. Does anyone have recommendations?  Can anyone out there share experiences with doctors and hospitals?  Any and all leads will help.  Thank you so very much for your time and consideration.  cg

I live in  Connecticut and had my Whipple done at MSK and I highly recommend them.  I have also ad interaction with Johns Hopkins.  Either hospital is an excellent choice because of the number of Whipples they do.  The nursing staff at MSK was unbelievable.  My surgeon, Dr. Murray Brennan just retired, but I can provide you a number for his office and they can refer you.  

DavefromCT

My husband had whipple at Johns Hopkins Aug 09. Surgeon was Dr Kenzo Herose. Since that time he has seen Dr Dung Le. She is an excellent oncologist. We go to Hopkins every 3 months for scans and i can e-mail her and she will answer personally. If you choose a hospital that is not close to home be sure you have an oncologist that will work with the doctor at Hopkins. or what ever hospital you choose  She has always dictated his treatments and we like her very much. Personally we feel that doctors at the big hospitals are more up on latest treatments. Johns Hopkins has a pancreatic clinic that is for one day . You can find the info on google. Hopkins is the top pancreatic hospital in the world but as i have read on here there are other very good hospitals. Praying that you find what is best for your situation.

Also note often sloan kettering and md anderson (and my nci center in NH) and maybe columbia in ny and some others will do chemo and, or chemo-radiatio prior to a whipple which can not only increase numbers that qualify but increase survival--NEOadjuvant treatment.  One huge advantage is some will then have it shrink around ? portal vein/artery which would have some surgeons close up and not do surgery if around it and this can make that difference, maybe downgrading stage.  This option depends on evalutation, scans too.   Sloan is 2nd rated cancer center in US.  Ask number of patients seen yearly, number of whipples, whether do neoadjuvant treatment and trials, if can do whipple if cancer around pancreatic vein....

Good Afternoon:

I would recommend Dr.  Jarnigan at Sloan.  MY wife was diagnoised with Stage 4 Pancreatice Cancer 5 years ago, and they could not do the surgery back then.  She used a great Oncology group in North Western New Jersey. She was on Chemo for 4 years, and no one would do the Surgery.  She tried Columbia/Pres, and they would not do it.  My wife Oncolgist contacted Dr. Jarnigan.  Not sure if the spelling of his name is correct.  He and his staff reviewed her case, and said they would do the Whipple Surgery.  He felt that her cancer was under control with the chemo.  VEry few would do this surgery 4 years later.  She had the Surgery done last summer and she has done really well so far.  He is a good surgon.

Did your wife have pancreatic adenocarcinoma or neuroendocrine or some related periampullary type?  What chemo?  It seems one is slower than the other and it would be unusual to hear someone that fortunate with adenocarcinoma if not give whipple early.  It is important for patients to know what might be a lifeline if no surgery initially.  Overall, people if offered the whipple, need a top doc and canNOT delay surgery.  Some facilities use chemo sucessfully first but I have never heard of a whipple more than shortly after.  If sign of cancer anywhere else, can they also put her on a maintenance dose of a low toxicity chemo to increase chances of longterm doing well?  GOOD LUCK! I had whipple for related ampullary but after nearly 2 years I have met many with pancreatic and I have learnt through support group, seminars,...  

It's interesting you say that about others not doing the Whipple but your surgeon would at MSK.   When I initially met   Dr. Murray Brennan (retired) to review whether he would do the surgery or wait for the chemo to try to shrink the tumor, he confirmed the approach we were taking was the correct one.  He did say that if the chemo didn't work, he would do the surgery.  His response demonstrated to me his level of confidence in his abilties... others would not agree.

Thank you so much Dave - from all the reading I've done - indeed the quantity of Whipples performed is key.  The decision has been made to go to Johns Hopkins and work with Dr. John L. Cameron and his team.  I appreciate you reaching out very much. Wishing you the best.

Thank you very much to everyone for extending your help - deeply appreciated.