Anyone have preventative surgery for IPMN (not cancer)?

I am considering the same surgery also. Preventative in am 70.

@bluemorphos, have you decided to have surgery? How are you doing?

@colleenyoung
4 doctors have now told me I need the surgery. As of yesterday, I’m finally in agreement.

@bluemorphos, when will you have surgery? What questions might you have of others who have been there as you prepare?

@colleenyoung I had the surgery on Feb 19. Am recovering now at Univ of Iowa Hospital. They were able to get me in within 7 days of my 1st visit there. Found cancerous mass in the head that was not seen at Mayo at the end of December. I had a Whipple rather than an total pancreatectomy. Thanks for asking.

@bluemorphos I am glad you got the surgery you needed. I know it is a difficult decision. I am curious because I have a small mass on my pancreas (4mm). What test did you have first that missed it? Or was it possibly not there? No one has found a reason for my chronic diarrhea. My dad died of pancreatic cancer. They suggested I get another mri in a year. I am wondering if that is soon enough.

@bluemorphos I am glad you got the surgery you needed. I know it is a difficult decision. I am curious because I have a small mass on my pancreas (4mm). What test did you have first that missed it? Or was it possibly not there? No one has found a reason for my chronic diarrhea. My dad died of pancreatic cancer. They suggested I get another mri in a year. I am wondering if that is soon enough.

@smitty1950 i would not wait a year. In fact, i would spend this time talking to additional doctors who are bona fide specialists in Pancreas and liver. Some will speak with you without travelling.

@smitty1950 my U of I surgeon ( 2 days ago—said the pancreas is very difficult to read with scans) Either I did not have the mass in September, (CT scan, UnityPoint, Des Moines), Oct (MRI, Des Moines) or December 2025 (EUS, Mayo Clinic Rochester) or it was not discovered. Even the latest CT scan on Feb 9 was only seen by him and not the radiologist. (U of I).

Of course, the mass could have just developed between Mayo EUS (Dec 30) and CT scan on Feb 9. The pancreas is tricky!

@asufloss,

I am writing to wish you the best of everything these coming weeks :(smooth surgery, easy recovery and ease of transition to the insulin world and digestive enzymes) My surgery (same as yours) is on the 13th and would like to keep in touch with you as we are only 9 days apart on the next part of this journey.

Toni