Re : Thanks for sharing thoughts, Bert -- what surgery?

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

Kimber has explained Bert's surgery. When a total pancreatectomy is

offered (removing the whole of the pancreas) as a possible solution

for CP, it is often when the patient is in severe intractable pain.

Only a specialist surgeon can decide whether or not it is either

necessary or a viable option in any individual case. In my

particular case a high cancer risk has been identified. (I don't

think Bert has ever mentioned this in his case, but I could be

wrong.) My surgeon has borne that high risk in mind when looking at

my overall condition and offering me at least the possibility of a

total pancreatectomy. There are risks and possible complications

attached to the surgery so it is not a decision to be taken lightly

and surgeons don't offer it readily; they try to avoid it. It is

just one option I have been discussing with my surgeon. He has had

success with this operation. He does not do the islet-cell

transplants but only a couple of his patients ever became brittle

diabetic afterwards; most have little difficulty in controlling

their diabetes. (I know one of them quite well and have been in e-

mail contact with another. Neither has any problem with their

diabetes.)In any case, as I have end-stage CP, with a severely

calcified pancreas, and he expects me to be diabetic before too long

anyway, I would not be an appropriate subject for this procedure;

there would be far too few islet cells to harvest.

I haven't made up my mind yet whether or not to have the operation.

Since I happen to have a high cancer risk, there are obvious

attractions in the idea of losing my pancreas but I know there are

many counter-arguments.

I hope that explains the situation.

Best wishes,

Fliss