Two Questions: How Long Do People Survive After Whipple Procedure? Can You Still Be Athletic After W

On 2/13/2008 happytobehere wrote:

Today is 8 months after my Whipple. I had Ampullary carcinoma of the Ampulla of Vader. The Whipple procedure was successful in removing the tumor, but also took 1/3 of the stomach and 1/3 of the pancreas, duodenum, gall bladder, etc. I lost around 20 pounds from the surgery and reduced appetite from the stomach reduction.

I am 51 years old, male, and had never been in the hospital or even had an IV before this procedure. The hospital stay was 11 days total (8 days post op) and it was amazing the atrophy that took place during this time. My stamina was almost non-existent at first, but gradually got better and better. I never had any dietary restrictions and still do not, but there are certain foods that seem to cause problems. For me, milk, onions, shellfish to name a few. The problems are not that bad to worry about avoiding these foods, just now I know there may be some reaction. I used to take Aciphex for heartburn, but now I take nothing except Centrum Silver vitamins. No other drugs whatsoever and my blood work is perfect, cholesterol is 150, just bilirubin is high.

I am lucky to have never needed Chemo or radiation mainly because they caught this early (4 cm) when it presented itself after I showed signs of jaundice. I had a few days with unknown fevers, but they never found anything until the jaundice. I am lucky the attending was demanding of the tests as I thought it was just hepatitis from traveling. I am fortunate to be able to tell a positive story, but also encourage you that the key to recovery is determination, good spirirts, and a sense of humor. Be patient with the recovery and do not expect things to change overnight. I did get 15 rounds of golf in before winter and found I have a draw now, but less distance. The stomach muscles will take a long time to heal and you always know the scar is there, but looking at the alternatives, this is not so bad. There are definitely some good stories out here and I hope that mine will help anyone anxious about their future.

I was very interested to read your message. I have posted a number of messages in the last year about my case, in the hope that I might give some encouragement to others. I also had a Whipple procedure to remove an adenocarcinoma of the ampulla de Vater in Feb/1998 and have just completed 10 years' survival. I was never a true athlete but these days do aerobics using a runner, rowing machine, arm & leg weights (I am a 72 year old female) at home and lead an active life. I also have bile refluxes as my stomach takes a long time (approx. 23 hours) to empty. I take Sucralphate for this. Otherwise Vit. B1 (thiamine) to compensate the loss of duodenum. Mostly, I find it hard to adapt to several small meals a day. I work full time and don't eat fast food or artificial beverages ever. My tumor was about 1-1/2 cm when biopsied with no metastasis or signs of cancer in the lymph nodes. I am the first person on either side of my family to have had cancer.The surgeon did say that he thought it had been about 1 year growing and also that according to statistics he had studied in 1998 there seemed to be a link between this rare type of cancer to trauma and depression, which I experienced about 18 months before the first symptoms. This was not his personal opinion or that of my oncologist, who simply said 'etiology unknown'. My Whipple was followed by 2 procedures for pancreatic fistulas and then 3 months later by a bile diversion procedure. I was operated in Rio de Janeiro where I live. Keep us posted on yr progress.