Husband had Whipple surgery and chemo: He's uncomfortable

Thanks for the follow up. My assumption was as you suggest, the number of chemo treatments is based on results of the scans and how the chemo is affecting the size and vascular entanglement with the tumor. My CT-Angiogram of two weeks ago showed a 3.1 cm diameter mass at the head of the pancreas (adenocarcinoma) and some limited involvement with the SMV (superior mesenteric vein). My second round of chemo is next week, so I'm about 6 weeks behind you. Sounds like we are in relatively good shape compared to many who find themselves with an unanticipated pancreatic cancer curve ball late in life. Also like you, I was diagnosed and initially treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. This old guy (74) returned home to Alaska last week for the chemo to follow this summer, but I'll return to Rochester for radiation therapy if needed, and the Whipple procedure as well. May you (we) fare well in the months ahead. As for the Mayo Clinic.... I've run out of superlatives to describe the quality of care, teamwork and professionalism by everyone I encountered there.

I believe the results from the CT and PET scans every 2 months dictate the therapy that is needed as well as the surgeon who will be doing the Whipple surgery.

rod54 - Like you, I was recently diagnosed Stage I and just began Folfirinox chemotherapy. It's unclear to me whether I'll be getting a total of 8 rounds or 12 rounds (possible radiation therapy to follow) before the inevitable Whipple procedure. Did your oncologist tell you what determines whether you get 8 or 12 rounds?

I was diagnosed on February 21, 2023 with Pancreatic cancer at stage 1.
They weren’t sure if I would need radiotherapy and chemo before a Whipple surgery.
I just had my 6th round of chemo and as of right now I may only have 8 rounds in total.
If this is all I need I will have the surgery in August at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Rochester Minnesota. I will be having a laparoscopic procedure.

Thanks for the good advice and good reminders. May your husband be well.

The plan I’m on is chemo then radiation and then surgery. The chemotherapy is to kill the cancer cells the radiation is focused on the tumor to shrink it and then the surgery to remove the tumor. It’s the size of a golf ball and is sitting on a blood vessel.

Why is radiation needed after chemo & Whipple at Stage 1 ,???My husband is doing all the chemo then Whipple in August but no mention of radiation.Is that something they tell you after surgery??TIA ♥️🙏

Thanks for the particulars, sunscreen reminder, and well wishes. May your husband be well. Thank you.

My husband had the Whipple procedure in February and started 6 months of Chemo in April. He too is uncomfortable, tired and has no appetite. This is so much rougher than I could have imagined for him, and I was imagining the worst to begin with. Trying to take things one treatment at a time, but he never fully bounces back from one treatment and then it starts all over again. I try my best to be the “glass is half full” person for him. Wishing everyone going through this with the people they love the strength to endure🙏

My husband is using Aveeno and Aquaphor lotions. Seem to be helping with dryness. Don’t forget sunscreen on tops of hands too. He’s having his 5th round of Folfirinox on 6/13. Wishing you wellness on this hard journey.