On 2/8/2008
Son of Mary jo wrote:
My Mother has stage III Pancreatic Cancer, diagnosed June 2007. She has been receiving Chemo/Radiation/Genzar at the City of Hope Hospital. In June, she had exploritory surgery at a different Hospital and they determined it was localized but inoperable. Since then, the tumor has grown from 1.7 MM to 2.2 MM but has not spread.
She was told yesterday by the City of Hope Doctor's that an operation is available to her, where they would open her up to see if the Whipple Method is an option. The Doctor's give her a 25% chance of receiving a Whipple Method Surgery and 20% of living 5+ years if she receives that surgery.
Some Background: She is currently on disability, receiving SSN. My Brother lives at home with her but has a full-time job. She is strong, currently in no pain and again, the tumor is sustained.
My question is: Given the quality of life scenarios and the recovery time, I am interested in the good, bad, ugly stories that exist for the Whipple Method. What would YOU do?
Hi,
Your story is so much like my husbands. He was diagnosed with Cancer in June, 2007. He is 59 years old. He bacame Jaundis , they put two stints in. He could not live with just that. They did a Whipple procedure the beginning of July. The cancer was found in the Bile Duct the Tumor on top of the pancreas and 2 lymoh nodes. The Whipple procedure consisted of taking part of his stomach, 40% of his pancreas, all of his gall bladder and 31 lymph nodes. He has done remarkably well with this operation. He spent 10 days in the hospital. They diagnosed him wtih Bile Duct Cancer. They said it did not get into the pancreas jus tthe tumor but they took 40% o fthe pancreas to be on the safe side. So from July 13 when he had the operation to the beginning of Aug. he then started the chemo.
In Sept. he started chemo., (Gemzar), then Oct., Radiation with Chermo., 7 weeks every day for 5 days and then a 3 week break. He then started up again with chemo. and has 2 treatments left. His levels have been very good.
My husband had the Whipple procedure done at Mass. General in Boston. What a phenominal Dr. and hospital. We were very blessed to be sent there.
The only minor complication that my husband had was part of his incision about 2 inches became infected. Because of the healing process he could not start the Radiation for awhile. Other than that he did GREAT.
Now it is hard for him to eat small frequent meals. He says he cannot acclamate himself to do that. So he will eat 3 meals, by dinner at times he only eats a little because he ate more during the other two meals. Also, he can't handle sugar by itself. He can maybe have cake or candy with a meal but in between meals if he eats any sugar he gets an upset stomach.
We are so happy that the operation turned out so well for my husband.
I will send a prayer for your MOM.