Hello @patti1952

I see that this is just your second post on Mayo Connect - welcome!

Unfortunately, there is no non-medical way to explain a Whipple Procedure as it is a surgical procedure that removes part of the pancreas, duodenum and other parts of the intestinal tract. Mayo Clinic offers a fairly easy to understand description on their website. Here is the link, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/whipple-procedure/about/pac-20385054

As you can see from the description, it is used to treat tumors in the pancreas, duodenal and other parts of the digestive tract and it is a difficult and demanding surgery.

What is your specific interest in the Whipple Procedure? Do you know of someone who will be having this type of surgery?

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Hello @patti1952

The Whipple procedure was developed by a Dr. Whipple back in the 1930's. It is a surgery for early stage pancreatic cancer patients.. (Although doctors at Mayo are developing procedures that are allowing them to successfully do surgery on patients with more advanced stages now.) In a typical Whipple, the surgeon removes the cancerous tumor from the pancreas, the duodenum, the gall bladder and part of the stomach. The surgeon then attaches the stomach and the pancreas to the small intestine.

In my case, I had already had gall bladder surgery, so the surgeon removed my duodenum, 1/3 of my stomach and most of my pancreas. What was left of my pancreas was so bad that the surgeon did not attach it to the digestive system. The pancreas makes insulin and digestive enzymes. I am now a Type I diabetic and I have to get the digestive enzymes in capsules every time I eat.

If you have any other questions, let me know and I will try to answer them.

Marv

Thank you so much but my partner has stage 4 pancreatic cancer that has metastasized to his hip bone. No one had suggested surgery just the radiation to the hip and chemo which he had to stop it caused a heart attack and had left him weaker then the start. They don't understand anything about him or why he is still alive for that matter.

Hello @pattie1952

When was your partner diagnosed?

Here is a link to the article I was talking about: https://advancingthescience.mayo.edu/2018/07/02/a-revolution-in-pancreatic-cancer-treatment/

Hello @patti1952

I am so sorry to hear of your partner's diagnosis. That is so unfortunate.

Teresa

whipplepathway.ca
Have a look at this. This is what my surgeon provided me so I would understand what I was about to undergo...and in simple terms.