Whipple or no Whipple?

@johnny1955 now my cancer as returned. My diagnosed is 3-6 months with or without chemo. I was told that chemo will not kill the pancreatic cancer. So now I am on hospice. Anyone going through hospice? What are the stages? So far had to up the oxycodone. More tired and more pain. What will be the last steps?

I’ve posted before, but I can’t find it. Here’s our current situation.
Husband, 85 he’s,Ty, works out w/trainer, etc has had 3 EUS w/biopsies. None show cancer, just atypical cells. However Pancreas tail is atrophied, and his pancreatic duct is 3 times normal. Dr. At UVA wants to do a Whipple. I don’t know what to think. Any thoughts?
Thanks to all of you!
Jerry

@monterrey1997
find a surgeon who does 100+ whipples a year. Its a tricky surgery.
I had read that advice and fortunately live near the Johns Hopkins hospital-world class surgeons AND team.
Only 25% of PC patients are even eligible for it, and it's the best hope for recovery. I'm 7+ years cancer free now
—probably for many reasons, starting with the surgery.

@jerrya My thoughts are that I have more questions. Here is kind of what I am thinking. So the cells were described as atypical and nothing else? Where are those atypical cells? The Whipple is typically used to address issues in the head of the pancreas yet your husband has an atrophied tail? I am just trying to make sense of things with you. I feel like I am missing something or don't understand something. What are your thoughts?

@eabisme Seven years cancer free, that is wonderful! Can I ask what stage your cancer was? And besides the surgery, what other factors do you feel have helped you along the way?
I am cancer free now (was assessed stage 1B 15 months ago, had the Whipple 6/25, 12 rounds of Folfirinox last year) and now focusing daily on gratitude and positivity, exercise, etc, hoping to stay cancer free for as long as possible, or for forever! Right now I am in great health, enjoying every day, new grandmother (as of 2 months ago), and will have my debut book published before too long (book publishing journey is looooong - 😄). I am 72.

@tomrennie
Yeah, questions! The “mas” is in the head of the pancreas. They’re thinking it’s causing a blockage which has caused the tail to atrophy and the pancreatic duct to dilate 3 times normal. But still, after 3 biopsies, nothing has even whispered cancer. Supposedly false negatives can be as high as as 25%. Also the mass is adjacent to the SMV - not attached, but biopsies have been difficult.
And nothing more than atypical cells’

@katieliz Yay for you. Cancer free? When did you learn that?

@tomrennie I now get scans every 3 months, since finishing chemo Dec2025, scans end of December and March have both been clear.

@katieliz Congratulations. What a great way to start the new year. I am happy for you.

@jerryc131 I feel for you. I never heard of a Whipple being done without cancer being involved. I wonder if anyone else has and under what circumstances? Hopefully someone way more knowledgeable than me responds. There are several of them here. I didn't know that the false negative numbers were so high. That can't be very reassuring. I will do a little research on my end. I will let you know, if I find anything or not. Ok?