What is your Recovery Advice for a Distal Pancreatectomy?

@cazalia I did chemo after surgery. I had a chemo port placed first and then chemo started about 6 weeks after surgery. My care was at MSKCC and for me there was nothing new found during surgery. My hospital had me walking (slowly) the next day. Personally, I found the surgery easier on my body than the chemo. I had 12 rounds of Folfirinox. Best to you and mom. 💜 Happy to answer any questions you have. PS…I also sent you a private message.

@bunky2078 thank you for the follow up! Did you do chemo after or did you do it before surgery as well? My mom will do chemo after. We were at first wondering if she should have chemo first but she’s having surgery in less than 2 weeks after we found the initial tumor in her scan so we feel lucky we can do it so soon and if all goes well hopefully she will start chemo in 5-6 weeks.

did they find that your tumor was consistent with the scans or did they find anything new during surgery?

My mom is very active now but she does have a lung and heart condition so hoping this won’t put too much of a strain on her body but we will get her walking as soon as we can.

@cazalia, I did have a laparoscopic distal. I was 52. Happy to answer any questions you have.

@bunky2078 thanks for sharing your experience. Did you have laparoscopic surgery? My mom is going to get laparoscopic distal but is is 81 so concerned about her recovery

@mnewland99
Reading this about eliquis. A bit nervous now.
Yes, I do need the hernia fixed. It is quite a bulge on the left side

@jenniferweirich1, you got some great responses from fellow members. I added your question to the Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) support group too. See it here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/neuroendocrine-tumors-nets/

You might also appreciate these related discussions:
- Distal pancreatectomy scheduled at Mayo: Logistical questions https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/distal-pancreatectomy-scheduled-421-questions/

- What's recovery after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy like?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recovery-after-distal-pancreatectomy-and-splenectomy/

After reading the tips from others, do you have any further questions?

Had that surgery in April. Went well, although they kept me there for over a week before discharge. Took pain relievers and muscle relaxers for about a week after that. Guess that's normal for open incision. There is still some soreness with slight restrictions of movement, but nothing too bad.

I read that good fitness helped recovery so I tried to walk a lot before the surgery. Not so much in the days after...also you won't be lifting much for a while.

@reme51
No. Mine was a non functioning Neuroendocrine tumour that was plugging up 1/2 my pancreas. So it was small but 1/2 my pancreas had withered away. Also blocking a major vein that needed patched as well. No treatment before as we choose surgery and surgeon left my treatment up to an endocrinologist and they said there is nothing left to treat as surgeon is confident he got it all. But still going to follow me (both of them) every 6 months with scans/blood for 5 years. My first scan was Sept. My A1C was already going high before so I learned a lot about diet/exercise and brought it down. I’m doing that again. Likely one day be Type 2 diabetic officially and have to do meds then. Just staving those off as long as possible. Please ask away. Happy to help. Just know it’ll be from my knowledge. None of us are doctors. I wish you well. Oh congrats on da baby!! So much fun! Hahaha. I had a very clear focus to my recovery. Probably helped somewhat.

@midford
Was it adenocarcinoma? How big was it before being removed?
And are you saying you never had chemo before or after surgery? Are you able to eat normally now, or at least as you did before surgery? Sorry for all the questions but I'm at a crossroads for what I do next...(and I had my 1st grandson born 6 months before my diagnosis, almost 1 yr old now!) Jill

I had mine in his past April. My tumour was mid pancreas. So lost 1/2 my pancreas but it wasn’t working anyway. Chose to keep my spleen…. Bad choice should have let them take it. Had 4 vaccines because it was not happy, was trying not to do that. Oh well. Eating took a bit to see if the pancreatic enzymes were working well enough. Went in and out of that. Ended up not needing them. Lost some weight and gave up trying to gain it back. lol. Upside?! Needed new clothes. Haha. My tumour was completely removed with good margins. It spread to one out of 9 lymph nodes. Had zero symptoms before and still have none. No treatment either. Being monitored every 6 months with scans for 5 years. All the best. (I had a new granddaughter due/born a couple of months later so had huge motivation for my recovery).