Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

@cstroop1
Hello, most likely the surgery will be robotic. This will make recovery time so much easier! You will experience gas pain for awhile, which may radiate to your shoulder. Also you will be coached on eating. Probably smaller portions at a time, protein forward, taking it easy on fiber in the beginning. I found it pretty easy all and all. Later I had liver surgery which was a bit more of a bear!

@199 Nothing here but praise for my local VA med. center. I was in a clinical trial at the NIH and taking Olaparib since my DNA test showed I had the BRCA2 gene mutation and pancreatic acinar cell cancer, not ductal cell which was a requirement for the trial. The Olaparib didn't shrink the cancer areas at all. After release from the trial, I started at the VA and the oncologist there could not figure out why the Olaparib was ineffictive as it should have been with my BRCA2 mutation. He wanted another DNA test but Medicare wouldn't pay for it so he had the VA pay. He found that I'd had a reverse BRCA2 mutation (very rare thing apparently) which explained the lack progress on Olaparib and put me on Gemcitabine/Abraxane and it shrunk the 2 PET scan observable tumors down to where I was able to get radiation therapy. That doc is one sharp individual. All in the past now, as my recent PET scan showed more metastasization. I expected that, but that doc extended my life some. Thanks for the info on the Hempvana. I'll look it up and good luck, sir.

@56pan The VA has been very helpful with assistive devices like cane, shower chair, walker with seat 🙂 and a power chair (light weight and fits in back of our Blazer). Does not hurt to ask your provider if you need something. I use all of the above at differing times. The last few showers I could actually stand again 🙂 Oh how the little things can mean so much 🙂 Lidocaine cream is helpful for the neuropathy. So is Hempvana nerve pain relief. I found using a massager can help the neuropathy but had to stop when I developed blood clots in my right leg. Elevating the legs on a pillow (like "Gerd" pillow) helped some on the night I had chemo.

@cstroop1
My surgery is not Wipple but will be to remove a part of the tail of my pancreas. Scheduled in April of this 2026. Mayo’s Dr. Shauffley is my surgeon.
Would love comments from those who have had this type of surgery to help me understand what I am in for pre and post surgery.

@199 It would make sense to me that you had the neuropathy after that many infusions of Gemcitabine/Abraxane. Your symptoms are similar to mine, the duck walk, pain in the feet. I normally have the foot pain in the front of my right foot only at night and bad enough that it wakes me up. One thing that helped a lot was using the licocaine cream that the VA gave me to put on my infusion port before the chemo sessions. I was told I have a very deep port and it does hurt bad when the needle goes in and the lidocaine on there an hr. before I get chemo stopped that pain. I rub the licocaine cream on my right foot and then put a sock over it before going to bed. Thanks for the response and I hope this info gives you some small relief.

@56pan Oh yes, I have peripheral neuropathy! The Gemcitabine/Abraxane is the culprit. I had heard about cold therapy for hair loss prevention but not heard about it for neuropathy. At times I wonder if I would have much pain if it were not for the chemo neuropathy pains. Right now, it feels like someone is stabbing through my second toe on the left foot with a hot needle. I walk like a duck to keep balance. I've been off chemo since 12/18/2025 & like you, I feel the neuropathy is permanent. If you would ask me what pancreatic cancer feels like I would have to say the pain & loss of feeling in my hands & feet! I tried acupuncture for a while; it seemed to have helped at that time. I still get around without a wheelchair except for large stores like Walmart :).

@199 I was wondering if you had developed peripheral neuropathy after 85 infusions of Gemcitabine/Abraxane? If not, did you use cold therapy during the chemo infusions? I had 12 chemo sessions of Folfirinox, and 13 of Gemcitabine/Abraxane. No one told me about cold therapy. My peripheral neuropathy in my lower legs and feet is very bad and Folfirnox didn't seem to cause much of it but the Gemcitabine/Abraxane pushed it over a cliff. I've been off chemo for a few months now and I'm convinced the neuropathy is permanent. If I'd had 84 infusions of Gemcitabine/Abraxane, I'd be in a wheelchair.

@gamaryanne Thank you! Yes, time to put on my big girl pants and face this like anything else I have in the past. I do have so very much to be thankful for and giving up and not being around years from now for my family is not an option. Happy to have found this group.

I came upon this poem yesterday: Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says
"I will try again tomorrow."
Courage can be silent as the sunshine,
Invisible as the air,
Soundless as an oak tree in the forest,
Quiet as a prayer.
Courage has no army and no banners,
Courage has no drums.
But, softly when the heart asks God for help,
Courage always

@cstroop1 Hi and welcome to Mayo Connect. Sorry that I missed your original question. Below is another link that I hope you find helpful. How are you feeling?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-restrictions-if-any-are-in-place-6-weeks-after-the-whipple/

@cstroop1
You may want to review this thread on the pancreatic cancer connect section: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/whipple-or-no-whipple/
There are other threads in the pancreatic cancer section which also speak to how patients are responding/coping with the surgery. Even though my wife's pancreatic cancer was too locally advanced to have the Whipple done, I have found this thread helpful and encouraging. I hope you do too and good luck Carol!!!