Whipple ops....how many had your surgeon done??

[michele1960]

Just wondering the above..as every where I read of the importance of a surgeon that has done many, many of these. Obviously in the uSA they have done more than most surgeons here. If you've had a Whipple would be interested to know your thoughts.

[Sailor]

G'day It is not just the Whipple procedure - everyone should ask their surgeon how many of these procedures have they done? The evidence is that the more procedures that they have done the better the outcomes for the patient. This is one of the reasons why less common cancers should be treated in a specialist centre. Cheers Sailor ...Every master and pilot prided himself on knowing exactly how much way his ship was making. He knew the ship, he considered the wind, he watched the sails, he watched the water. In fact, it was a matter which just could not be explained to the landsman. A good sailor knew his ship, and that was all. E. G. R. Taylor

[michele1960]

Thanks Sailor, I research and research ..I live in a country area so it's difficult to know where to begin to look. From your experience how on earth do I find the best surgeon for a Whipple . I have been scheduled for the op next month by the same surgeon that did my liver resection in December. I did ask him and he said he's done between 5-10 a year over the past 10 years...this doesn't seem a real lot but I don't know how common they are either. I'm feeling that surgeons in Sydney or Melbourne would have done more but I'm unsure how I go about finding them?? Open to any advice please.. Thanks 🙂

[Sailor]

Dear michele 1960 I cannot really advise here as I have no idea how many whipple procedures are done, but I would feel fairly confident in someone who has done 5 - 10 procedures a year over ten years. That's 50 - 100 that he has done. It is not as if he is new to it. cheers Sailor Even now; with a thousand little voyages notched in my belt. I still feel a memorial chill on casting off. E. B. White

[kj]

michelle 1960 I had a Whipple 2and a half years ago done in the public system where you do not get a choice of surgeon, however after a chat with my to be surgeon I was very pleased that he was doing my surgery, he has done many and is part of a group who specialize in this surgery I definitely can not complain I have just had hernia repair surgery by the same surgeon I can not speak highly enough of him and his work, I also seen him doing trauma surgery on Television recently I literally owe him my life so sometimes luck and fate play a part in decisions made in our lives.If you want to know more PM me kj

[timvick]

Hi Guys I had a Whipple in June 2012 and after feeling like a train hit me (and having chemo) I went back to work full time in March 2013. Recent test shows no cancer at all so my Professor said there is only a very small chance of it returning and congrats you are in a small group that survived. My surgeon is a young Professor and a legend. I wanted to give him a big hug for saving my life. My Gastro specialist and Oncologist were brilliant too. And I had this done all in a public hospital as they would not operate in a private hospital. The staff were brilliant. I cannot say enough about them and that it looks like (I still can't believe it) I'll live for quite a few years. Hope that gives you hope. Just keep breathing!

[Ian_D]

Hi Everyone I had a whipple in June 2013 and I'm at the tail end of my chemo, thakfully.I had my surgery and chemo in a public hospital as well and everyone who was involved in my surgery and care after were brilliant. The Surgeon who did my whipples said that he did between 5-10 whipple procedures a year,which was about the average (In South Australia anyway) I have to agree with kj that fate and luck play a part in decisions made in our lives.With the chemo treatment I am lucky enough to be able to have the last 9 treatments at home instead of having to go into the hospital each time. Ian

[kj]

Ian D Good luck with your treatment and recovery.

[timvick]

Yes good luck Ian. A mate of mine once said that I was being very selfish not thinking about how my cancer was feeling. He said "it is probably thinking OMG I got a supreme optimist!".

[iangray9]

Hi Ian Another Ian here - in Brisbane, also facing prospect of a whipple - I hope. I am 64 - over the 12 months since diagnosis have responded well to chemo for pancreatic cancer (metastatic adenocarcinoma mainly of the tail of the pancreas), but so far surgeons won’t operate because there has been evidence of metastases into omentum and peritoneum. I’ve been off chemo since November 15 2013 and so far my ca19.9 has stayed stable. One surgeon has said if it stays stable for 6 months he would operate with whipple and removal of omentum. I am hoping for this but realistically it may not stay stable in next month or so and I will be back on chemo. At what stage of proceedings did you have your whipple? How has quality of life been? thanks ian G