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Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Welcome to the Pancreatic Cancer group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with pancreatic cancer or caring for someone with pancreatic cancer. Let’s learn from each other and share stories about living well with cancer, coping with the challenges and offering tips.
I’m Colleen, and I’m the moderator of this group, and Community Director of Connect. Chances are you’ll to be greeted by fellow members and volunteer patient Mentors, when you post to this group. Learn more about Moderators and Volunteer Mentors on Connect.
We look forward to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.
Pull up a chair. Let's start with introductions.
When were you diagnosed with pancreatic cancer? What treatments have you had? How are you doing?
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@gmaryanne,
Interested to know, do you visit all the various provides in other parts of the countryor is it virtual. Trying to get a virtual second opinion for soninlaw, 4.5 year survivor. It goes better with a dr. referral, I know. Trouble is I don’t know which Dr to contact. Major midwest medical center, but the main Doc seems to be oncologist. He still has pancreatic tumor but no further growth or new lesions found. that team now says Hospice or Palliative care. which he doesn’t want at this point. Should he have another primary care doc who can maybe look in with fresh eyes? Any opnions would be welcome. Thank you.
Hello, I had the open whipple surgery in November. When I went to set up the Laparoscopic surgery, my surgeon only did the Open Whipple. The Open Whipple is typically around 4 hrs. (mine took 3.5 hrs.) The Laparoscopic surgery takes around 7-8 hours. I was 72 years old and he felt that being under anesthesia for only 4 hours is much better than the Laparoscopic surgery for 8 hours which made sense to me. He also said that difference is either an incision 6" long or 6 1' incisions also he felt that feeling with his hands gave him an advantage over the robot.....He also gave me the option of monitoring my IBMN which I quickly dismissed as I didn't want to gamble on when it will become cancerous. I was in the hospital for 6 days after the surgery, I was up & walking the next day. The biopsy revealed that I had Colloid Carcinoma. All 37 lymph nodes and the resection were clear....I have to be on Creon for the rest of my days but no big deal, I was diabetic before the surgery. I did not need chemo or radiation but need follow ups with a scan every 6 months. Hope that helps...
A whipple seems extreme for a cyst. But at 3 cm can see their thinking. Laperoscopic? That must be a cyst in the tail so the direction may be a pancreadectomy not a whipple. Two different surgeries.
We've had a challenging year. And I'll admit to some melt downs... especially when someone is nice to me 🙂 It's pretty rural where we live (55 miles to town) so we were used to going to town once every two or three weeks. Now I'm driving to medical appointments two or three times each week, so it is hard to have time for much else. A lot of our social life involved skiing or hiking or kayaking, and we still have close friends, but not the activities with them. I'm doing ok. Just hoping when the chemo is done that Dan will get some energy back. Though we're facing the next unknown when the chemo is done. I assume a milder form of chemo? Don't know what the future holds.
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3 Reactions@sheridanb, I can imagine that your husband's diagnosis came as a shock to both of you. The side effects of chemo are so rough. Only 2 more treatments to go. How are YOU doing?
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1 ReactionPartial answer to your question, "Which procedure is better?":
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2811053
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8461253/
Hello Everyone, I was diagnosed with a 3 cm Mucinous Cyst on the head of my pancreas, and advised by Dr. to get a Whipple procedure as the cyst has a high probability of turning cancerous. Two questions I have as I consider the Whipple procedure, Is an Open Whipple or a Laparoscopic Whipple better? What are some of the most common permanent conditions after Whipple? Thank you for your feedback!
You are being evaluated and receiving care and advice from a pancreatic cancer center of excellence?
Folks, I am a two time cancer person, breast and thyroid. I was diagnosed last month with 1.3 cm lesions in the pancreas. Luckily it is not considered cancer, yet. I'm told protocol is a follow-up MRI in 6 months. I'm trying to find out from my doc if the protocol should be anything different given my history. Hard to get answers from busy people. Advice anyone? Thanks.
Thank you for your reply. Yes, we have spoken to two surgeons and are working with two oncology teams - Mayo and Minneapolis. What is your age and gender? What was the recovery period like after surgery? Have you been able to resume your daily activities after 29 months?