whipple

202 articles

Illustration of Whipple anatomy

If your tumor is in the head of the pancreas and has not spread, you may qualify for a Whipple procedure. What can you expect from this complex surgery?

Survivor Stories
December 8, 2023 • 2 Min

Being Aggressive Paid Off

Lynn Perkins was only 42 when she was diagnosed with stage I pancreatic cancer, so she wanted aggressive treatment. That was in 2004!

Survivor Stories
November 15, 2023 • 2 Min

A Long Slog to Diagnosis, A Quick Sprint to Surgery

Joseph Mele suffered through a year of mysterious GI symptoms until he was finally diagnosed with stage II pancreatic cancer.

Survivor Stories
October 19, 2021 • 8 Min

My Two-Year Journey with Pancreatic Cancer

When filmmaker Glen Trotiner was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he learned a new meaning for “treatment.”

Survivor Stories
September 9, 2021 • 6 Min

An Unexpected Diagnosis of PNET

Lisa Tayman was surprised to discover that the shoulder pain she had was from a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Survivor Stories
March 2, 2021 • 3 Min

Pancreatic Cancer During the Pandemic

Barbara Wojciechowski was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer as the pandemic was rising, affecting her family support during treatment.

Survivor Stories
May 17, 2017 • 3 Min

A Big Teaching Hospital Can Make All the Difference

When Bob Tirk’s local doctor couldn’t figure out the source of his pain, he went to a large teaching hospital, where he was treated for pancreatic cancer.

Treatments
May 13, 2022 • 4 Min

Understanding Distal Pancreatectomy

Distal pancreatectomy is another type of surgery used to remove tumors. Learn more and if you may qualify for this surgery.

Survivor Stories
October 28, 2019 • 1 Min

“She Saved My Life”

Ronda became an advocate after her Whipple surgery, but credits neuroendocrine cancer advocate Maryann with saving her life by insisting on follow-up.

Survivor Stories
May 5, 2022 • 3 Min

My Journey with Pancreatic Cancer

Dr. Robert Wagar lost both parents to pancreatic cancer. When his wife found an article about a surveillance study he had an MRI, which found a lesion.

Survivor Stories
August 31, 2020 • 4 Min

Confidence in My Treatment

After he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, retired 9/11 first responder Enrico Crisafi found a doctor he believed in, and who believed in him.

Survivor Videos
February 24, 2022 • 1 Min

I Didn’t Expect to Be Doing This

Sheila Sky Kasselman, a long-term survivor of pancreatic cancer, started a foundation to help others after recovering from Whipple surgery.

Survivor Stories
October 7, 2022 • 3 Min

I Thought it Was a Stomach Bug

Robert Gamble thought he had a stomach bug, but it turned out to be pancreatic cancer. He needed surgery and chemotherapy.

Survivor Videos
October 2, 2018 • 1 Min

There Is Hope for Everyone

Lee Ringuette is a 17-year pancreatic cancer survivor who changed doctors, underwent two surgeries, and grueling chemotherapy.

Page
June 20, 2022 • 1 Min

Glossary

A pancreatic cancer diagnosis means learning a whole new language for tests, treatments, symptoms, even body parts. Our glossary provides short definitions for any pancreatic cancer-related term.

Page
August 2, 2022 • 3 Min

Treatment Options

Treatment Options After you are diagnosed, your oncologist will discuss treatments. Learn more about the different types of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation used to treat pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy Most pancreatic cancer patients receive some type of chemotherapy, no matter what the stage of disease, to stop or slow the cancer from growing. Chemotherapy can cause […]