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Which questions should I ask my surgeon? (I think Whipple is likely.)

Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Aug 30, 2023 | Replies (30)
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@mayoconnectuser1

jk77,

IMO you should immediately consult with staff at Hopkins ... I don't know if they are considered a center of excellence for PC, but you can inquire if they do Whipple surgeries laparoscopically - if they do, they probably are, if they do not, they may not be.

Please reconsider that your life may depend on which choice you make. I believe your oncologist will understand if you go to a center of excellence.

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Replies to "jk77, IMO you should immediately consult with staff at Hopkins ... I don't know if they..."
jk77 | @jk77 | Aug 14, 2023

Thank you so much for this advice. I've been fretting about splitting my care between two institutions, but so far I feel more comfortable with the idea of surgery at Hopkins.

I just checked pancreasfoundation(dot)org for its list of NPF Centers of Excellence for pancreatic cancer. Hopkins, of course, is on the list -- but so is my current hospital, which I didn't know. This won't stop me from meeting with a Hopkins surgeon, but this does help me feel better about where I've been getting my care, and about my sense that my onc. knows what he's doing.

Once again you've helped me! Thank you so much, and I hope you receive more than you give.

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