David, As my Oncologist tells me ( I now have Pancreatic Cancer that has metastasized to liver and a rare genotype for tumor removed), none of know when we will die but for Pan Can we know the stats are not great. Thus our focus should on living, doing the things we love and not putting off until later. This is really something we should have done anytime but human nature is later when I cn afford it better. Work for a cure for you as there are 5+ year survivors out there and every year we gain is another year for research to help us. Pan Can research has come a long ways just in the last 5 years with immunological and genetic innovations. Let th scientists do their work and you get your surgery and LIVE life. You do better with a positive outlook, both before and after surgery. There will be pumps in the road and side effects you will deal with but smile...you are alive. I am not saying that we are too are not concerned about dying, but I am learning to get things in order for others, so that they have fewer worries later...and that has actually helped me release some of my fears and learn to live today. Talk with patient support and your surgeon about your concerns. They should be able to help. Ask as many questions as you like and get information that you need. This group will try and help from afar. Best to you for your surgery. Just a note, I had a spinal block for my Whipple and it allowed me to move better after surgery so I walked more sooner, got the intestines moving quicker and came home 3 days earlier. I am 73 and was determined to do what they suggested and more but the block was a major positive for me. Kept it for 2.5 days post surgery and then whined off and removed. Let us know how it goes.

As I said my whipple was in 2012, after went through chemo and radiation. I was having CT scans every 3 months and PET CT once a year and in 2015 they found the cancer had metastasized to my right lung.
Went through chemo and radiation again. I was good until 2018 when they another nodule in my right lung and just radiation this time, have been cancer free since. Feel great now almost 10 years out, did lose 100lbs after whipple.

My brother also scheduled for the whipple procedure on the same day (Mar 17 ) he is 46 years old.my prayers for both of you .get well soon🙏🏻