Pancreatic Cancer Whipple Procedure?

[EDDIE51]

A close friend and neighbour , has just been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and offered an operation called a Whipple Procedure.
His wife is very upset and has asked me if I know anything about this op.
Unfortunately I know nothing, can anybody give me some facts and figures? Survival/recovery rate etc? All I know is that the hospital have said they have caught it 'earlyish' so they are offering him this procedure. He is in his early 50s. Any help will be welcome, she is really upset.

[Sqad]

Eddie...this sounds as though he developing fluid in his abdomen (Ascites)which indicate not only the spread of the tumour (metastasis) but the beginning of the end for your friend.

[EDDIE51]

Thanks sqad, even though the news is worse than I expected.
I don't think I can say what have just told me to his partner. I'll just have to let the doctors tell her.

[Peter Pedant]

sorry ed
I didnt want to say I had never seen or heard of this op being done
( sort of stars n Ellis and Calne - textbooks )
but the patients are always ( 85% ) unfit ....

Mentioned lots of time ( I think one of the fat tenors had it - presenting with back pain - not agood way to find out) and the patient is unfit.

[EDDIE51]

Update. After 3 weeks in hospital they have finally given a date for the operation Monday 27th. They have managed to drain some of the fluid but he is still very jaundiced.( I have never seen someone so yellow!)
They are warning that the operation is 'risky' and will take 6 to 8 hours!

[Sqad]

Eddie.....your update is much appreciated.

[anneasquith]

Its brutal surgery, good luck to you're friend .

[EDDIE51]

Another update
Good news, my friend had the operation a week ago and is making an excellent recovery. Yesterday he even managed to walk around the ward for a short time. The op took over 11 hours and was more complicated than they expected , but he made a faster recovery than predicted.
Even a possibility of him being home next week.

[EDDIE51]

Update.
My friend has just had his first consultation with the Oncology consultant since being discharged from hospital, it's not good news!
The cancer is a 'very aggressive' type and has spread to the lymph nodes. He has been told that without chemotherapy he has 6 to 18 months life expectancy with Chemo up to 4 years possibly 5 !
He is undecided what to do. I do not know what to advise.