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.

[Peter Pedant]

if you google whipple procedure for pancreas
quite a bit comes up
https://www.pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/treatment/surgery/whipple-procedure-pancreaticoduodenectomy/

your frenz wife should be asking the surgeon who is proposing the operation as it matters what HIS rates are
All surgeons are required to audit procedures so they could ask him what his result rates were for the last ten.

( my surgeon have me 5% short term mortality and 50% long term survival for ca colon )

bit here

http://pancreatica.org/pancreatic-cancer/pancreatic-cancer-surgical-treatment/

wish the unlucky fella luck

[Buenchico]

This might help (although it's possible that your friend has already been given a similar booklet):
http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/Controlleddocuments/Patientinformation/Digestionandurinaryhealth/Whipples-procedure-patient-information.pdf

See also here
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-pancreas/Pages/Treatment.aspx
and follow the links to Cancer Research UK

From that link:
"Surgery is usually the only way pancreatic cancer can be completely cured. However, as the condition is usually advanced by the time it's diagnosed, surgery is only suitable for around 15-20% of people"
As I read that, it looks like your friend may well be one of the lucky ones.

[anneasquith]

I had cause recently to investigate pancreatic cancer and Whipple's surgery, some excellent information online, I'd suggest NHS choices initially. I agree with pp re the surgeons experience of this surgery .

[EDDIE51]

Thanks PP, that link to pancreatica was very helpful , I'll pass the information on.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah or no
I didnt want to say that it seems that 15% ( one out of six ) are operable
bit depressing for s/o who has just had a whammy

[EDDIE51]

Thanks to the others as well, yes it does look like he has been lucky and caught it in time. I'm making notes of all your suggestions and will pass them on. I hope to be able to visit him tomorrow and some encouraging news will help a lot.

[Sqad]

In addition to all the links above the survival rate following the operation is that one in 5 patients will be alive after 5 years whether there is lymph node involvement or not.
Audit figures for surgeons results are quite often figments of one's imagination.......as are many NHS statistics...... so if you have the choice of surgeon, then ask your GP.

[EDDIE51]

Well there is a complication and things have got worse.
The hospital now say that they will not do the Whipple procedure as the risk of surgery in his case is too high.
Do not know what will happen now? My wife has just gone over to sit with his partner as she is too upset to stay in the house alone.
I would add that the partner lost her first husband to cancer a few years ago, now it is looking as if it will happen again.

[anneasquith]

My friend wasn't suitable for Whipple's. She is having chemotherapy with a possibility of radiotherapy to follow.

[EDDIE51]

^^ Yes that is what I think will happen, but my reading of the information tells me that the Whipple procedure is the only treatment that can fully cure the condition. Radio and chemo are less effective.

[Sqad]

Eddie...your post is correct.
It will be up to the patient if he/she agrees to Radiotherapy/ chemotherapy........the bleak output will be the same.

[NoMercy]

The patient would only be given a Whipples with curative intent. If there was extensive lymphadenopathy or distant metastases, it would be deemed inoperable.

Your friend should expect to be referred for adjuvant chemotherapy once making a post op recovery. Adjuvant chemo will improve overall survival chances in the long-term and reduce the risk of cancer returning.

[EDDIE51]

Thanks sqad. Yes, I am not at all hopeful as to the outcome. I have to give his wife a lift into the hospital today so I've got to try to stay positive .

[Sqad]

Eddie......let'e make this simple.
Whipples is a curative enadevour.
Chemotherapy / Radiotherapy without Whipples is merely palliative.

[NoMercy]

What are the complication precluding surgery?

[Sqad]

a) there are no preclusions to local excision...anything can be removed.....but may not be curable.
b) meatastatic spread.

The latter being the main contra-indication to surgery.

In particular case and bearing in mind that i don't think that i have malignant disease, I would refuse further treatment..........just a personal viewpoint you understand.

[Smowball]

I understand where Sqad is coming from. Very difficult situation all round and really feel for your friend,

[DTCwordfan]

big operation as a third of the stomach and gut go, but if you have pancreatic cancer and they have caught it early, it can work....it worked for a friend of mine in the States. Hospital for three weeks, back to work inside 3 months, no cancer and no chemo or radiation needed.

[Smowball]

Wow that's great DTC X

[EDDIE51]

I don't know the exact reason he can't have Whipple, I think it is something to do with his retaining a lot of fluid that can't be drained off. This apparently will increase the risk of the operation to the point where they say it is not worth the risk. I'm only getting what his OH reports back, so it's second hand information. I was going to visit him today but he says he can't cope with visits at present.