On 2/21/2007 Herkamer wrote:
My dad is 71 and just diagnosed with pancreas cancer. It is in the head and wrapped around common duct. Stage is T20 and not metastized. He is scheduled for whipple next week, but wondering if his quality of life will be any good after. He does not want chemo or radiation and wants to enjoy the time he has left. We are all looking for answers. He is otherwise very healthy, rides bike and eats right. We do not want to go through such a radical procedure if he will only spend his final years feeling worse. Please help.
We had the same decision to make last month. With all the research we did, it seemed there would be longer life, but also more pain/discomfort after whipple. Chemo is standard follow-up after the surgery. You can expect your father to be diabetic. There's also considerable risk (up to 50%) of complications during or after surgery. Not being metasticized could greatly improve your outcome, but sometimes what they see now is not what they find when in surgery. You can find some very helpful experiences on the history of this sight, or at pancan.com, or by searching google for whipple surgery. Some were positive, yet prolonged recovery. Given these testimonials and the advanced stage my dad was in, he chose not to have the surgery after being diagnosed early in Jan. He takes pancreatic enzymes. Lack of appetite and itching are his main afflictions. He did well the first month, but is now growing weaker and more uncomfortable. Yet, he isn't in enough pain to take pain meds. He is alert and able to think clearly. He is getting his affairs in order.
Ours is only one situation. I recommend doing a lot of research with cancer websites. Be informed. Some doctors are much more experienced with whipple, therefore, would be a better choice if you go that route. It's a very long, complicated surgery. My dad chose least invasive treatments, but I believe his quality of life is much better than if he had chosen surgery. He will be having a stent placed to drain his pancreas, with the goal of relieving the itching. We're looking into hospice care for his remaining time. I hope this helps you some. I will pray for you- it's a hard season to walk through. May God go with you each step.