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Blood clot causes delay in whipple
After 2 months of chemo, Whipple was supposed to be done. Now due to a blood clot in his lung surgery is postponed for 3 months. Is this normal? Should we continue with chemo while we wait?
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Hello @rperry123, have you posted on this forum before? I’m sorry I don’t recognize the name. I’m so sorry to hear about the blood clot. I had surgery in 2022, chemo in 2023, chemo again in 2024, and in August 2024 developed a nodule in my lung that is benign and was due to difficulty breathing as I just discovered we have been subjected to gas leak for the last 7 months from our furnace in the condo we rented 7 months ago (I have had a really hard time breathing but my pulmonologists couldn’t figure out why). After the nodule biopsy/bronchoscopy I got a blood clot. I’m on blood thinners now. Do you know if you have any mutations (genetic) through any genetic blood tests you might have had? What does the imaging show? Is the cancer in the tail or head and is there any artery or vein involvement? On this forum, I do read about more than a handful of cases where surgery had to be postponed when chemotherapy is given before surgery, but there are also several cases where everything goes fine following chemotherapy and then surgery goes as planned.
I personally elected to get my distal surgery right away since my dad passed of a very aggressive pancreatic cancer within 8 months. Are you on blood thinners now? Apparently chemo or cancer thickens the blood and you are at risk for clots. Mine was very small and I also had an ultrasound to see if I had any in my legs, but I did not. My oncologist said a person is at risk for 3 months after identified and being on blood thinners for additional clots so 3 months makes sense. Many people on this forum will also say that you can always get a 2nd opinion (if your insurance allows it or you can pay for it) to get some feedback from a medical professional. Best wishes on your journey and please let us know of your progress!
Sorry I just noticed your post says Whipple , so it’s in the head of pancreas!
@rperry123, this must be so disappointing for both you and your husband to have the surgery delayed because of the blood clot found in his lung. On the other hand, thank goodness the cancer team discovered the blood clot so that it can be done safely once the blood clot is resolved.
Will they continue chemo for the next 3 months until the surgical date or monitor the tumor? How are you doing?