Is Whipple surgery recommended for 81-year old?

My mother has a rather large lesion in this area. The part they can see was tested is not cancer right now. They are recommending she get the procedure done. She had a bleed that dropped her red blood count fairly low and she has had about three transfusions. They said this lesion/mass was the cause. They did put a stent in as well.She did have a minor heart attack about 8 months ago. She feels fine and is not in any pain. Her blood work came back excellent.Is this procedure worth it for her?The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is where this procedure could take place. Thanks for reading.

My mother has a rather large lesion in this area. The part they can see was tested is not cancer right now. They are recommending she get the procedure done. She had a bleed that dropped her red blood count fairly low and she has had about three transfusions. They said this lesion/mass was the cause. They did put a stent in as well.She did have a minor heart attack about 8 months ago. She feels fine and is not in any pain. Her blood work came back excellent.Is this procedure worth it for her?The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is where this procedure could take place. Thanks for reading.

My mother has a rather large lesion in this area. The part they can see was tested is not cancer right now. They are recommending she get the procedure done. She had a bleed that dropped her red blood count fairly low and she has had about three transfusions. They said this lesion/mass was the cause. They did put a stent in as well.She did have a minor heart attack about 8 months ago. She feels fine and is not in any pain. Her blood work came back excellent.Is this procedure worth it for her?The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is where this procedure could take place. Thanks for reading.

I had the Whipple this past June at age 71. I did not have cramps or painful gas as johnny1955 did, but every person is different. But not an easy surgery, I wasn't moving around like before, of course, cutting you open and taking things out (part of pancreas plus gallbladder plus duodenum) means you have to give it time afterwards, for healing. So yes, some pain and discomfort. I was given a prescription for oxycodine, took I think 2 pills total, taking Tylenol was really all I needed. I could not run up and down our stairs as previously, but at 6 weeks post I had recovered 90%. I was in excellent condition before being diagnosed (stage 1, malignancy).
I also take the pancreatic enzymes - not Creon, but ZenPep, I think they are about the same. I have had some digestion issues (loose stools), comes and goes, and hard to determine if this is a result of my pancreas not functioning like it did, or something I ate? It’s kind of tricky, trial and error. Your Mom should have a dietician available through the hospital and consulting with them as often as needed is helpful.
If I were you and you are able to get in without a long wait (Mayo is so excellent and I know they don't do surgery anytime they don't have to) I would take your Mom for a second opinion. Unless you have unwavering faith that the recommendation you have gotten from the U of PA for the surgery is the right one for your Mom, and she is ready to go for it (and is not ready to give up…sounds like if they don't do the surgery, the mass will probably become cancerous?). Probably U of PA is highly thought of, and do lots of Whipples. I read that you need a high volume hospital - for the Whipple - and your surgeon does 15-20 of these at least in a year.
But I’m not sure how to get in as a patient at Mayo, so that might not be an option, or even how to get in for just a consult might be a wait.
I did not get a second opinion, due to the mass being malignant I did not want to wait to start on chemo which is what I needed to do before surgery. Had faith in the UCCHealth system which is where I get my care here in CO.
At age 71 I was not AT ALL ready to go, I think one’s mental attitude means a lot when one is deciding between options. Good luck!

@katieliz
I am 72 and was told by my local doctors that I needed a Whipple within weeks as my duodenum contained precancerous large legions that needed to be removed and would become cancerous within 90 days. I went to Mayo's website, filled in a form requesting an appointment and was called the next day. They said I could come in the next week to visit with a gastro doctor. I visited and was told I should try another endoscopic removal. I had to wait two months for the procedure, but they assured me based on their read of the biopsy and other test results, the wait was not a problem. They were able to remove the very large lesions and found no cancer. It is definitely worth a try.

I had the Whipple this past June at age 71. I did not have cramps or painful gas as johnny1955 did, but every person is different. But not an easy surgery, I wasn't moving around like before, of course, cutting you open and taking things out (part of pancreas plus gallbladder plus duodenum) means you have to give it time afterwards, for healing. So yes, some pain and discomfort. I was given a prescription for oxycodine, took I think 2 pills total, taking Tylenol was really all I needed. I could not run up and down our stairs as previously, but at 6 weeks post I had recovered 90%. I was in excellent condition before being diagnosed (stage 1, malignancy).
I also take the pancreatic enzymes - not Creon, but ZenPep, I think they are about the same. I have had some digestion issues (loose stools), comes and goes, and hard to determine if this is a result of my pancreas not functioning like it did, or something I ate? It’s kind of tricky, trial and error. Your Mom should have a dietician available through the hospital and consulting with them as often as needed is helpful.
If I were you and you are able to get in without a long wait (Mayo is so excellent and I know they don't do surgery anytime they don't have to) I would take your Mom for a second opinion. Unless you have unwavering faith that the recommendation you have gotten from the U of PA for the surgery is the right one for your Mom, and she is ready to go for it (and is not ready to give up…sounds like if they don't do the surgery, the mass will probably become cancerous?). Probably U of PA is highly thought of, and do lots of Whipples. I read that you need a high volume hospital - for the Whipple - and your surgeon does 15-20 of these at least in a year.
But I’m not sure how to get in as a patient at Mayo, so that might not be an option, or even how to get in for just a consult might be a wait.
I did not get a second opinion, due to the mass being malignant I did not want to wait to start on chemo which is what I needed to do before surgery. Had faith in the UCCHealth system which is where I get my care here in CO.
At age 71 I was not AT ALL ready to go, I think one’s mental attitude means a lot when one is deciding between options. Good luck!

My mother has a rather large lesion in this area. The part they can see was tested is not cancer right now. They are recommending she get the procedure done. She had a bleed that dropped her red blood count fairly low and she has had about three transfusions. They said this lesion/mass was the cause. They did put a stent in as well.She did have a minor heart attack about 8 months ago. She feels fine and is not in any pain. Her blood work came back excellent.Is this procedure worth it for her?The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is where this procedure could take place. Thanks for reading.

@ruch66 Hi and welcome to Mayo Connect. Others have provided some of their experiences. What other concerns do you have?

My mother has a rather large lesion in this area. The part they can see was tested is not cancer right now. They are recommending she get the procedure done. She had a bleed that dropped her red blood count fairly low and she has had about three transfusions. They said this lesion/mass was the cause. They did put a stent in as well.She did have a minor heart attack about 8 months ago. She feels fine and is not in any pain. Her blood work came back excellent.Is this procedure worth it for her?The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is where this procedure could take place. Thanks for reading.

My mother has a rather large lesion in this area. The part they can see was tested is not cancer right now. They are recommending she get the procedure done. She had a bleed that dropped her red blood count fairly low and she has had about three transfusions. They said this lesion/mass was the cause. They did put a stent in as well.She did have a minor heart attack about 8 months ago. She feels fine and is not in any pain. Her blood work came back excellent.Is this procedure worth it for her?The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is where this procedure could take place. Thanks for reading.