Pancreas Cancer FAQs


1	The Pancreas
2	Pancreatic Cancer
3	Causes of PC
4	Heredity
5	Risk Factors
6	Diagnosis
7	Metastasis
8	Staging
9	Questions to ask
10	Surgical Treatment
11	Medical Treatment
12	Vaccine
13	Symptoms & Side Effects
14	Screening
15	Pain Management
16	Diet & Exercise
17	Final Stages & Hospice

The Whipple Procedure
Also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy, which is generally the removal of the gallbladder, common bile duct, part of the duodenum, and the head of the pancreas.This operation was first described by .Dr. Alan O. Whipple of New York Memorial Hospital (now called Memorial Sloan-Kettering). Since that time, there have been many modifications and improvements of the procedure. There is a detailed account of the operative mortality rates and long-term survival rates in the Surgical Treatment and Research section of this site.

There are several variations of "the Whipple" currently practiced:

Standard Whipple with lymph node dissection

Radical Whipple with lymph node dissection
Pylorus Preserving- preserves the pylorus (where the stomach empties into the duodenum)
Classic - includes removal of 40% of the stomach

Cancer in the Body or Tail of the Pancreas:
Distal Pancreatectomy and Splenectomy- Removal of the tail and part of the body of the pancreas.



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Disclaimer: No two patients with pancreas cancer are identical. The appropriate treatment of individual patients with pancreatic cancer varies greatly depending on the patient's medical and surgical history. The information expressed in this Web page is not medical advice. It is meant only to educate health care professionals and patients about the current status of treatment and research in pancreas cancer at Hopkins. Before making any medical decisions, patients with pancreatic cancer are advised to consult with their personal physicians.