Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

So they just took the tumor out? Did it turn out to be cancer? Did you have pain prior to it getting removed? I don’t know what to do or who to see

Yes I live in Absecon NJ. Really wanted to go to penn but they didn't take my insurance.

I have a precancerous pancreatic cyst discovered incidentally when screening for another complaint. I have undergone two Endoscopic Ultrasounds, but due to my anatomical abnormality, no biopsy was performed. ( I think that a prior hiatal surgery rearranged my abdomen) Because of my advanced age, I am not a candidate for the Whipple surgery. Thus, I am currently in a surveillance situation having scans every six months. The size of the cyst is a critical concern; however, the location of the cyst preclude removal of the cyst without the Whipple procedure. What other options do I have? Anyone with a similar experience?

I'm wondering about your age precluding your not being able to have the Whipple. I had my Whipple at 83 years old; I'm 85 now and still hanging in there. Perhaps another opinion if your age is similar to mine. Courage, Carrie

Thank you. I am 84 and have been told by two different doctors that I am not candidate for the Whipple surgery. May I ask where you had surgery and what doctor performed the procedure?

Speaking of Whipple and age, a surgeon will tell you it is not age that is the deciding factor but the physical assessment of the patient. The oldest patient to have the Whipple done was 103 and it was done at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore by the noted Whipple surgeon John Cameron MD now retired. I know of another patient that was in their early 90’s operated on by surgeon Flavio Rocca in Portland, Oregon and again the decision was taken to perform the Whipple based on the physical condition of the patient-not the age. Both of these accounts were by personal communication with the surgeons mentioned.

Speaking of Whipple and age, a surgeon will tell you it is not age that is the deciding factor but the physical assessment of the patient. The oldest patient to have the Whipple done was 103 and it was done at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore by the noted Whipple surgeon John Cameron MD now retired. I know of another patient that was in their early 90’s operated on by surgeon Flavio Rocca in Portland, Oregon and again the decision was taken to perform the Whipple based on the physical condition of the patient-not the age. Both of these accounts were by personal communication with the surgeons mentioned.

There were no symptoms and we discovered the tumour by chance. No pain, no discomfort, no digestive problems. We did not know any surgeons or oncologists; and we Googled, called up doctors we knew etc. You can do this - be calm; no time to be frightened; move forward systematically; ask questions of all your doctors.