post whipple and lymph node involvement
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Well all we have learned is to have chemo and radiation when nodes involved and we have heard too that chemo is not too effective over this type of cancer,after a whipple but is an enabler to the radiation. So you have to get both. My husband was only in the hospital for 6 days after the whipple but the only chemo suggested to us was 5FU and we were told it has the best results. Funny how everyone is put on different stuff so who knows. Unfortunately, my husband is down 80 pounds, he continues to lose weight and is eating and drinking Ensure and putting in the calories. All labs and scans are good so we can’t say he has cancer in him….He is in pain, drugged up, stomach hurts all the time and feels full, we feel he should be on the up and up after whipple was Jan 4th so we are trying to get an appt with the surgeon again since he did the work and may know what is going on. Such a long road and he is so sick of feeling like crap every day!
Thank you for your replies. I see that each case is quite different. My friend is now home, about 10 days after the whipple. She is thrilled to be out of the hospital. she plans to start chemo/radiation in about four weeks. Her doctors have even talked about clinical trials. I will let you all know what she is taking when the time comes.
A Friend
To a friend again. My cancer was ampullary cancer, where the bile duct and pancreatic duct meet the duodenum.
Hi to a friend. I had my whipple at the end of April 2009, and there was involvement with one lymph node. I started 6 months chemo in July after recovery from the surgery. Will see the surgeon again in August, and am hoping for no recurrence. At the moment I feel very well, and have gained all my weight back again, and have a very healthy appetite. Certainly, chemotherapy is the best way of licking the beast after having the whipple. With lymph node involvement, no chemo is not advisable. Long term prognosis, I am not sure about.
Hi Benedicta,
Welcome to the site although I am sorry that you had to find us all here. And I am sorry that chemo has not been successful for your husband. I can’t help you with your questions as my dad never had the whipples or chemo but I wanted to stop by here and welcome you to the site. I think that you might get some more answers to your questions if you started your own thread on the “introductions” section as this way more members will see your post. Also, we have a good search function at the top of the page that will throw up discussions between members for this and many other topics.
Please keep coming back here as we are a very friendly bunch and I’m sure that will get answers to your questions from someone. And you will also get a load of support from all of us here.
My best wishes to you and your husband,
Gavin
My husband also have the whipple in october. He was release after a long stay in the hosp. We were expected to start chemo and radiation in January. We saw the radiation oncolgist to set up radiation. Jims test came back with lymph node and liver mets. His markers had increased, so no radiation was able to be done. His tumor markers were in the thousands in spite of the gemzar he took for 9 treatments. We decided to stop the chemo. He had about 5 pretty good weeks. We now have him on hospice. They have been trying to help his pain. He has mets to the bone. The oncologist is not hopeful at this point, saying enjoy each day. Which we are.
I will say a prayer to you and your friend. So many stories have good results. Try to stay possitive and do enjoy the times he is feeling well. DonnaMy husband had the whipple procedure in October 2009, completed chemo for lymph node involvement in April 2010. Chemo not successful – is there anybody further down the track than my husband and how are you going. Since the operation my husbands markers have now increased into the thousands. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards
BenedictaHi Isisman and Friend,
My dad’s case is also similar. He had the whipple of extrahepatic CC (near pancreas) on 13th January and 7 of 16 lymph nodes involved microscopically. Isisman, is your husband going to start chemotherapy? My dad is on a Xeloda trial. I hope he soon starts to feel better.
Friend, hoping that your friend is recovering well. Let us know what chemo/radiation is recommended.
Best wishes to you all
KateMy husband is 51. Had the whipple, had 1/2 pancreas removed but cancer didn’t head toward liver so the liver was intact. He had 4 of 8 nodes in fected which unfortunately is not good. Seems this cancer comes back to those with node infections. My husband had the whipple January 4th this year. He has lost 8o lbs. Still has trouble eating, pain, can’t keep lbs on, still on a varity of pain meds and other stuff to help with issues. Recovery has been a bitch but he can walk, bend, drive, just not energy to work. I would really like to keep in touch to know down the road, years even, how your friend is doing since it seems like my husband’s case and your freind are a similar match.
Hi There,
Welcome to the site and thank you for telling us about your friend. I do hope that she manages to get home from the hospital soon and that she makes a speedy recovery from her whipples surgery. I can’t add anything to what Marion and Lainy have said to you but I wanted to stop by and welcome you here.
Please keep coming back and feel free to ask as many questions as you can and I know that someone here will be able to answer them for you.
My best wishes to you and your friend,
Gavin
Welcome, A Friend to our wonderful family. My husband at 77 yrs old now is almost at his 5th anniversary of the “BIG” one. The Whipple is the biggest surgery to the human body, not life threatening just a huge surgery. Recovery can take a few months to several months. Teddy had some bumps in the road but he started putting golf balls at about 6 months and at 73 went back to work part time at about 6 months. His was in the Bile Duct Valve but they cut the head of the Pancreas to get to it. Hoping your friend has a non eventful and speedy healing. Please feel free to visit us often and please keep us posted on how your friend is doing.
Dear friend….I am happy to hear that your friend is doing well. This is a tough surgery and recovery time can vary. But, every day she should be improving. Regarding your question: lymph nodes act as filters or traps for foreign particles. Cancer cells collected in the lymph node point to metastases of the carcinoma (cancer.) In other words, the cancer is floating in the blood stream. When and where it will show up again can not be predicted. However, I recall a conversation with a highly regarded oncologist who mentioned that cancer cells have a tendency to float in the blood stream (at times for years) even when the patient is in remission.
I am wishing for continued success and a speedy recovery. Please, stay in touch and keep us informed.
All my best wishes,
MarionMy friend is 8 days past the whipple and the surgery went well. Hopefully she will go home from the hospital soon. Yesterday we found out there was lymph node involvement. The tumor was on the bile duct that was in the pancreas. I guess we are looking at chemo and/or radiation next. the lymph node involvement was a surprise. The doctor called it (I think) carcinoma metasisis. I am not sure what that is and did not want to question in front of anyone.
A Friend
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