My husband is down to his last two weeks of treatment before we find out if the tumor in the head of his pancreas has shrunk enough away from the portal vein to do a whipple. We are between resectable and non-resectable. The doctor said he could go in now but he would be afraid some would be left behind. So, we opted to do chemo and radiation first. My husband has come through with flying colors so far. No throwing up or any other sickness, no hair loss, blood counts remain stable, and our weight is just down two pounds. I wondered if anyone else has been in this kind of situation. We just need to hear from some survivors. Just some good news. This is torture. I have been told we have one of the best surgeons in the southeast for whipple procedures. I mean to look at my husband, if he were not wearing a 5FU bag you would not think he was sick. I am having a great deal of trouble with this and just need to know if anyone has been in the same situation and survived this awful disease. He has significant involvement of one artery and it is just barely butting the portal. Our prayers are this treatment shrinks and we get the whipple. But then what? He is 47, has never even taken a prescription drug until this happened. Always jogged, lifted weights. Just the picture of health. I am terrified of what a whipple does to a person but also know it is the only cure. Please respond if you have any insight. Thanks and god be with all of you.