On 2/25/2008 TessG wrote:
Kristi, My husband is 53 and had his Whipple at the University of Kansas Med Center on January 15. He was diagnosed in December and is stage 3. We, too, are dealing with wound issues, some nectroic tissue had to be removed last week so he has two open areas that have to be tended (one about three to four inches long and the other is about two inches long) but he's doing OK with that. When you mentioned that chemo would have to be delayed due to your husband's wound, it reminded me of what our oncologist said when we met him for the first time last Friday. I was very concerned that chemoradiation would be delayed due to the open wounds (one of them is quite deep) and he said it was not necessary to wait, that yes, a lot of people do receommend delaying chemo if there are wounds but he does not believe that the patient who is otherwise healthy will be damaged by starting therapy with these kinds of wounds. He actually said he thought that philosophy was crap--and at that moment I knew I was going to like this guy. We just have to follow the same precautions we are now--avoid large crowds (as if he'll want to go hang at the mall anyway!) and use lots of hand sanitizer. You may wat to press your oncologist a little bit to see if he might relent and allow your husband to go ahead and start treatment sooner rather than later.
TessG,
Thanks for the info. I will definitely try to push the issue of chemo/radiation. My husband is just too weak right now and has lost so much weight, he cannot eat well either, even the supplemental drinks he is struggling with. He doesn't seem to be mentally ready, and he had said at one time he wasn't going to do treatment, then another day he says he will. The diagnosis is new and it is hard to take it in on some days as I am sure you know.
Thanks again for your information, this is great advice.
Kristi