Guest guest Posted November 28, 2003 Report Share Posted November 28, 2003 Hello Donna, I am pleased that your Whipple was so successful. It's good to hear of surgery working so well; it gives hope to lots of others. It isn't suitable for me partly because there is no healthy tissue left in my pancreas (it is calcified throughout) but also because I have a very high cancer risk and it would only make sense to remove the whole thing, for obvious reasons. I am also on the verge of becoming diabetic. I have the high cancer risk because I have hereditary pancreatitis and have had CP since I was four or five years old. I'm 57 now. Research indicates a 40% lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer in such cases. That's not easy to live with. This is why my panc specialist/surgeon is willing to do this operation, if I wish. He isn't trying to persuade me to have it done; it's an offer which I can take up if I wish. Apart from the CP symptoms (pain etc.), I'm reasonably fit, still working and eating well and he seems to think I would have a good chance of making a good recovery with less, or no pain. He's an outstanding pancreatic surgeon and specialist. However, the TP does carry risks, which he has discussed fully with me, and I would be diabetic. No guarantees can be given that pain will disappear completely. I'm very likely to end up diabetic anyway before too long as I am in the end-stage of CP. The most impossible decision of my life, obviously! Best wishes and carry on doing well. Thanks for your message. Fliss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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