Hi London! My name's Kim, I'm 42 years old, and I was diagnosed with ampullary cancer on March 5th of this year. I had the Whipple procedure performed exactly five weeks ago today at University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. My surgeon was one of the best in the city, and I actually came home after 8 days in the hospital on a liquid/soft food diet. No feeding tube thank goodness! I've experienced alot of nausea and pain; but overall I'd say I'm recovering quite well.
I also had the cancer in a few of my lymph nodes and actually meet with my oncologist tomorrow. I'll be happy to share any information I can with you. Like you, I was shocked when I was diagnosed. Had been having abdomenal pain and my gastro doctor did an endoscopy and thankfully found my tumor. I know that they consider ampullary cancer a bowel cancer, not pancreatic. My surgeon said I will have to have yearly CAT scans to make sure the cancer hasn't relocated to another organ, but after five years of clean scans, they consider you cancer free and cured. Will let you know what my course of treatment will be. I hope you're well; take care.