Subtitle: Risk of Recurrence After Whipple Surgery
Pancreatic cancer is a serious diagnosis, and Whipple surgery is a major operation to remove all or part of the pancreas. Because of the complexity of the procedure, it is important to understand the risks of recurrence after Whipple surgery.
Recurrence is defined as the return of a cancer after it has been treated. After Whipple surgery, the risk of recurrence depends on the type of cancer, the extent of the surgery, and the patient’s overall health.
Local recurrence is the most common type of recurrence after Whipple surgery. This is when the cancer returns in the same area where it was originally found. The risk of local recurrence is higher for tumors that have spread beyond the pancreas.
Distant recurrence occurs when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. The risk of distant recurrence is higher for tumors that have spread beyond the pancreas.
Overall recurrence is the risk of both local and distant recurrence. Studies have shown that the overall recurrence rate for patients who have had Whipple surgery is between 20 and 30%.
It is important to note that the risk of recurrence is not the same for all patients. Factors such as age, gender, and the stage of the cancer can affect the risk of recurrence. It is also important to talk to your doctor about your individual risk of recurrence.