1. < Pancreatic Cancer

Whipple procedure: What is the recovery like?

Posted by salledell @salledell, Sep 9, 2019

Has anyone had the Whipple procedure, and how long did it take to start eating fairly normally again? And how long did it take to regain enough strength to resume fairly normal activities like some gardening, driving, and shopping?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

tpl | @tpl | Oct 28, 2022
In reply to @savanna22 "Does anyone have an opinion on doing chemo before a whipple surgery?" + (show)
@savanna22

Does anyone have an opinion on doing chemo before a whipple surgery?

Jump to this post

I was diagnosed in March 2022 with Stage 2 PC. My doctor, (Dr. Douglas Evans - Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI) requires chemo and radiation prior to The Whipple. To date, I have completed 7 months of chemo and almost 6 weeks of radiation/chemo....with my final treatment to be Thursday, November 3rd. Next week I meet with Dr. Evans for a final examination and if treatments have progressed as hoped, he'll schedule a date for surgery.....tentatively looking like early - mid December. If all goes well, I should be home on time to receive my bag of coal on Christmas Eve!
REPLY
1 reply
tpl | @tpl | Oct 28, 2022
In reply to @nhow234 "My surgery is next week. They are taking out my spleen and part of my pancreas...." + (show)
@nhow234

My surgery is next week. They are taking out my spleen and part of my pancreas. I had chemo before surgery. The chemo helps shrink the tumor and any other chemo cells before surgery

Jump to this post

Good luck with your surgery! Where is your surgery and who is your doctor?

REPLY
1 reply
esacia | @esacia | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @savanna22 "Does anyone have an opinion on doing chemo before a whipple surgery?" + (show)
@savanna22

Does anyone have an opinion on doing chemo before a whipple surgery?

Jump to this post

My surgeon told me that it has been proven that chemo and radiation before surgery is beneficial as cancer is less likely to return if cancer cells are killed before surgery.

REPLY
esacia | @esacia | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @tpl "I was diagnosed in March 2022 with Stage 2 PC. My doctor, (Dr. Douglas Evans -..." + (show)
@tpl

I was diagnosed in March 2022 with Stage 2 PC. My doctor, (Dr. Douglas Evans - Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI) requires chemo and radiation prior to The Whipple. To date, I have completed 7 months of chemo and almost 6 weeks of radiation/chemo....with my final treatment to be Thursday, November 3rd. Next week I meet with Dr. Evans for a final examination and if treatments have progressed as hoped, he'll schedule a date for surgery.....tentatively looking like early - mid December. If all goes well, I should be home on time to receive my bag of coal on Christmas Eve!

Jump to this post

I’m being treated at Froedtert as well for PC. Just finished 8 rounds of chemo today and starting radiation in November. Whipple will most likely be in January.
I’m happy for you as you’re in very good hands with Dr Evans.

REPLY
nhow234 | @nhow234 | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @tpl "Good luck with your surgery! Where is your surgery and who is your doctor?" + (show)
@tpl

Good luck with your surgery! Where is your surgery and who is your doctor?

Jump to this post

My surgery is at Mayo in Rochester, MN. My doctor is Dr. Thiels. It is worth the drive to get the best care.

REPLY
1 reply
stageivsurvivor | @stageivsurvivor | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @nhow234 "My surgery is at Mayo in Rochester, MN. My doctor is Dr. Thiels. It is worth..." + (show)
@nhow234

My surgery is at Mayo in Rochester, MN. My doctor is Dr. Thiels. It is worth the drive to get the best care.

Jump to this post

If your objective is survival with the potential for the best possible outcome of the most difficult surgical procedures to perform requiring skilled surgeons and an experienced multidisciplinary care team in a high-volume, NCI designated center of excellence in cancer treatment, the answer is clear.

REPLY
stageivsurvivor | @stageivsurvivor | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @savanna22 "Does anyone have an opinion on doing chemo before a whipple surgery?" + (show)
@savanna22

Does anyone have an opinion on doing chemo before a whipple surgery?

Jump to this post

The “Alliance” clinical study comparing perioperative (neoadjuvant) and adjuvant chemotherapy shows better outcomes are achieved when perioperative chemotherapy is used. A phase III study of this trial is currently underway gathering even more data in support of the phase II findings which can be reviewed at this link-

https://bulletin.facs.org/2020/10/alliance-a021806-examines-perioperative-vs-adjuvant-chemotherapy-for-resectable-pancreatic-cancer/
REPLY
lvtexas | @lvtexas | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @nhow234 "My surgery is next week. They are taking out my spleen and part of my pancreas...." + (show)
@nhow234

My surgery is next week. They are taking out my spleen and part of my pancreas. I had chemo before surgery. The chemo helps shrink the tumor and any other chemo cells before surgery

Jump to this post

How many chemo cycles did you have and type? Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted.

REPLY
2 replies
nhow234 | @nhow234 | Oct 30, 2022
In reply to @lvtexas "How many chemo cycles did you have and type? Good luck with your surgery and keep..." + (show)
@lvtexas

How many chemo cycles did you have and type? Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted.

Jump to this post

I had the 5FU?. Tough chemo treatment. I could only handle 5 treatments.

REPLY
pendesk8 | @pendesk8 | Nov 1, 2022

Has anyone been told that they cannot have the surgery because there was cancer in local lymphnodes .My last PET scan showed no cancer but my oncologist is saying I have to take full chemo until my body can't take anymore ,then I die .I have never heard of this and can't find anything like that anywhere.I'm thinking its time for a new Doctor.

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.