Table of Contents
- 1 Who is a good candidate for the Whipple procedure?
- 2 Can metastatic pancreatic cancer go into remission?
- 3 Is there an alternative to the Whipple procedure?
- 4 How serious is the Whipple procedure?
- 5 What is life expectancy after a Whipple surgery?
- 6 How long does pancreatic cancer take to metastasize?
- 7 What cancers can be treated with a Whipple procedure?
- 8 What happens to the pancreas after Whipple surgery?
Who is a good candidate for the Whipple procedure?
For pancreatic cancer, specifically, the Whipple procedure is considered only for tumors that have not metastasized (spread) to other structures. An individual with tumors of the pancreatic head that have not spread are a typical candidate for the Whipple procedure.
Can metastatic pancreatic cancer go into remission?
Some pancreatic cancer patients reach remission. Others are able to stabilize their disease or reduce their tumors through treatment approaches like clinical trials, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or a combination of these methods.
Does Whipple procedure cure pancreatic cancer?
The Whipple procedure is the only known cure for pancreatic cancer and is usually performed on patients with cancer that has not spread beyond the pancreas.
What stage is metastatic pancreatic cancer?
Metastatic: If the cancer has spread to distant organs, it is called metastatic (Stage IV). These cancers can’t be removed completely. Surgery might still be done, but the goal would be to prevent or relieve symptoms, not to try to cure the cancer.
Is there an alternative to the Whipple procedure?
Based on this experience, I believe that the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection and the Frey procedure both offer better alternatives than the Whipple operation for patients with benign disease.
How serious is the Whipple procedure?
The Whipple procedure is a difficult and demanding operation and can have serious risks. However, this surgery is often lifesaving, particularly for people with cancer.
Can pancreatic cancer come back after Whipple surgery?
A recent review study of >1700 patients who had a Whipple’s operation (the cancer operation that is performed to remove the head of pancreas) and found that whilst the majority of patients had cancer recurrence in distant sites (like the liver) that would not be affected by how the operation was performed, 12\% of …
What is the best treatment for recurrent pancreatic cancer?
The treatment of recurrent pancreatic cancer is similar to the treatments described above and usually involves chemotherapy. Radiation therapy or surgery may also be used to help relieve symptoms. Your doctor may suggest clinical trials that are studying new ways to treat this type of recurrent cancer.
What is life expectancy after a Whipple surgery?
Overall, the five-year survival rate after a Whipple procedure is about 20 to 25\%. Even if the procedure successfully removes the visible tumor, it’s possible that some cancer cells have already spread elsewhere in the body, where they can form new tumors and eventually cause death.
How long does pancreatic cancer take to metastasize?
A recent study illustrated that it takes about 12 years for the initiating mutation to result in the nonmetastatic founder cell; another 7 years to acquire the metastatic ability, and then 3 more years to cause death [4]. In other studies, the small pancreatic cancer was demonstrated to have a slow progressive rate.
Where is the first place pancreatic cancer spreads?
Pancreatic cancers often first spread within the abdomen (belly) and to the liver. They can also spread to the lungs, bone, brain, and other organs.
How serious is the Whipple surgery?
What cancers can be treated with a Whipple procedure?
Your doctor may recommend you have a Whipple procedure to treat: Pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cysts. Pancreatic tumors. Pancreatitis. Ampullary cancer. Bile duct cancer. Neuroendocrine tumors.
What happens to the pancreas after Whipple surgery?
The remaining organs are reattached to allow you to digest food normally after surgery. A Whipple procedure — also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy — is a complex operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder and the bile duct.
How is pancreatic cancer treated when it recurs?
When pancreatic cancer recurs, it most often shows up first in the liver, but it may also spread to the lungs, bone, or other organs. This is usually treated with chemotherapy if you are healthy enough to get it. If you have had chemo before and it kept the cancer away for some time,…
What percentage of pancreatic cancer has no symptoms?
Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer usually shows little or no symptoms until it has advanced and spread. Therefore, most cases (up to 80 percent) are diagnosed at later, more difficult-to-treat stages. Read more about pancreatic cancer staging .