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← Return to Whipple procedure: What is the recovery like?
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Whipple procedure: What is the recovery like?
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Dec 12, 2022 | Replies (75)Comment receiving replies
Hi, My husband has completed chemotherapy and radiation treatments and is waiting to have surgery. He is in the process of building up his stamina so he will do better with his recovery. Due to the chemo and the diabetis he now has nueropothy in his hands and feet. He is 73 and this has aged him. Pretty scary when the PET scan does not show any metastisis, but the doctor says it has, it's just too small to show up on imaging right now. Pretty grim when they tell you the survival rate to 5 years is only 10%!
Replies to "Hi, My husband has completed chemotherapy and radiation treatments and is waiting to have surgery. He..."
I'm 76 and also had foot and hand neuropathy, a common side effect of some chemo. They watched mine closely and used it as one indicator of how I was tolerating treatment and adjusted doses accordingly. In my case and with friends who had it, it usually dissipates with activity. Still have some in my larger toes, some dead spots on my finger pads and tingling, and some residual numbness can hang around. Would be an issue for a ballerina but not for most activities. Found that vigorous excercise after recovery really helped - things like swimming. Be sure and clearly communicate all side effects.
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ticklefeather,
What does the doctor base that assessment on?
Blood marker tests should provide some indication ... CA 19-9 and CEA ... have these been done every chemo cycle? What are the numbers now?
PET is not as detailed as CT, but shows hot spots ... what did the CT provide?