Hi,
I was diagnosed with ampullary of the vadar in 2004. I had a wonderful team of doctors in Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital/Sylvestor Cancer clinic. My whipple took approx 6 hours I am told. My recovery in the hospital was 6 days when I was released. I was released with a drainage tube as well and it was removed 4 weeks later. They don't tell you the removal really hurts....lol I was active again with in 2 weeks of going home. I was sent home with pancreas (to eat during meals) and protonix to take before bed to stop acid reflux. Currently I only take pancreas when I know I am going to eat a food that my stomach doesn't like...lol I have not taken the protonix for reflux in 2 years. I eat what I want when I want. I am active in every shape in form I want to be with no reprucussions. I had no chemo or radiation ever. My doctors got it all when they did the whipple. I currently still go in for qaurterly blood work but my scans are down to every 6 months and still cancer free.....woohoo...august will be 4 years. I visit my doctors still every now and then to show them a whipple is survivable. I do find if I put on any weight here and there my scar doesn't like it and neither do I....lol
Hang in there everyone....we're alive and still able to talk about it. We are survivors...thanks God everyday for it....God Bless you all
Carolyn in florida
On 3/26/2008 Wanda47 wrote:
I am 47 yrs old and was diagnosed with stage 2 ampullary cancer in Jan 2008, I had the whipple procedure done on Feb 8 by a fine Dr at Oschners in New Orleans. I was in the hospital for 13 days and was sent home with 5 tubes in me including the feeding tube, I was off the feeding tube after 1 week home and went back to New Orleans yesterday for my 6 wk checkup.They removed the rest of the drainage tubes but when they went to removed the feeding tube,they had to break the stitch from the inside.My stomach feels like Im wearing it on the outside now it is so painful and sore. Is this normal? Im suppose to start radiation and chemo next week but have a rash around one of the incisions from a drainage tube, I will be taking xeloda(3 in morning and 2 at night) the entire time of radiation for 6 weeks. Ive heard people say they have taken xeloda for 14 days then a week rest. Is it normal for me to take it 5 days a week for 6 weeks?I also had stage 3 colon cancer 4 yrs ago and am in remission still thank god, Actually thats how they found the ampullary cancer when I did the ct scan to make sure the colon was still in remission..The Drs seem to think I was lucky that they caught it because I didnt have any symptons at all. Any feedback will be great. Ive read many stories on here and I feel at home here when Im reading. I know Im not alone. God Bless You All!