by admin-blog-kh | December 15, 2025 8:24 am
Pancreatic cancer occurs when uncontrolled cell growth begins in the pancreas. This cancer can spread to nearby organs and is particularly deadly because it is often detected late. At this stage, the cancer has usually already metastasized. Early symptoms are uncommon, making diagnosis difficult. Pancreatic cancer is rarely diagnosed in people under 40, and risks increase with smoking, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. The Whipple procedure, also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy, is a complex surgery to remove operable pancreatic tumours. During this procedure, the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, the bile duct and the gall bladder are removed. This is done to minimize chances of the cancer recurring. This is a life-saving procedure but comes with a high risk of complications such as infections, bleeding and life-long digestive complications. The surgery typically lasts 4 to 12 hours and can be done using open or minimally-invasive techniques. When performed by experienced surgeons, the Whipple procedure offers good patient survival rates, especially if the cancer hasn’t metastasized to the lymph nodes.
Pancreatic cancer develops when uncontrolled cell division begins to happen in the cells of the pancreas. This could occur in the exocrine tissues (the part of the pancreas that produces digestive enzymes) or the endocrine tissues (the part of the pancreas that produces hormones). A majority of pancreatic cancer (almost 95%) occurs in the exocrine tissues. The cancer cells formed in the pancreas have the ability to invade other organs and metastasize. Pancreatic cancer rarely occurs in people below the age of 40. The risk of developing pancreatic cancer is low in those who do not smoke and maintain a healthy weight and an active lifestyle. Pancreatic cancer is one of the more deadly types of cancer. It is rarely found in the early stages, when chances of curing it are highest. This is because symptoms often appear only after it has spread to other organs. It has a high mortality rate within 5 years from diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer often doesn’t exhibit symptoms until the disease is in its advanced stage. When they occur, symptoms usually include:
Pancreatic cancer can be hard to find. It doesn’t exhibit symptoms early and the pancreas is too deep in the abdomen for a general physician to feel during a physical exam. There is no standard test yet to screen for or diagnose pancreatic cancer[11], which complicates the diagnosis.
Factors that may increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer include:
Once pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, the best course of action is to totally remove the tumour and try to prevent recurrence. This approach is recommended when the tumour is still localized to the pancreas, and the surgeon thinks that it can be removed completely. If it is not completely removed, the cancer can recur. If removing the entire tumour is not possible, the pancreatic surgeon may focus on improving the patient’s quality of life[13].
For cancerous tumours located in the “head” of the pancreas, the surgeon may elect to perform a Whipple procedure. This procedure is also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy. In this procedure, the head of the pancreas, the duodenum (the beginning of the small intestine), the gall bladder and the bile duct are removed, along with any lymph nodes which are close by. Sometimes, a small portion of the stomach also needs to be removed. After removal, the remaining bile duct and pancreas are re-attached to the small intestine to re-establish the digestive tract. The Whipple procedure is complex, and comes with serious risks like bleeding, infection, slow emptying of stomach and intestinal leakage. However, when done at the right stage, it can save the patient’s life.
Before undergoing the Whipple procedure, it is recommended that you meet with your surgeon and healthcare team to understand what to expect before and after surgery, along with the potential benefits and risks. This is a good time to ask the doctors any questions you may have. If the tumour is large, the surgeon may recommend that you undergo a course of radiation therapy or chemotherapy to shrink it. This makes it possible to remove the entire tumour and prevent recurrence. You can also discuss the option of using minimally-invasive techniques like laparoscopy or robotics-assisted surgery to perform the procedure. Minimally-invasive techniques generally result in less blood loss and a quicker recovery with fewer complications. Your surgeon will be able to advise you about the possibilities. However, if complications arise during surgery, minimally-invasive procedures will be converted to an open procedure to ensure the best possible result.
The Whipple procedure is a complex surgery. It is an in-patient procedure that requires careful post-op care. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. The surgical team usually includes pancreatic surgeons, surgical nurses and an anaesthesiologist. Once the patient is under general anaesthesia, a urinary catheter is inserted into the bladder. The catheter stays in place during the surgery and for a couple of days after. The surgery can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours. This depends on how advanced the cancer is, the location of the tumour and the complexity of the case.
Depending on the approach chosen (open, laparoscopic or robotic), the surgeon will make a large incision or a series of small incisions. The tumour is identified and isolated. The head of the pancreas, as well as the duodenum, the lower part of the bile duct and the gall bladder are resected out. Even when the procedure is performed using minimally invasive techniques, a slightly larger incision of about 3 to 5 cm will be required to remove the resected organs from the abdomen. The surgeon then reconnects the pancreas and the bile duct to the small intestine, completing the digestive tract.
After surgery, patients may need to stay in the hospital for 7 to 10 days before they can be discharged. During the hospital stay, the doctors and nurses will monitor their recovery and keep an eye out for any signs of complications, like infections or fistulas. The patient will be prescribed over-the-counter painkillers for discomfort and pain during the recovery period. Geriatric adults may require a longer hospital stay, as their digestive systems need longer to recover. The patient is usually advised to eat small portions of easily digestible foods at frequent intervals. If they respond well, the portion sizes can be increased and the frequency decreased to normal meal timings, in a phased manner. Some patients are given pancreatic enzymes on a short-term basis to help them recover better. Most patients can return to their normal lives about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
Around 1 in 3 people who undergo the Whipple procedure tend to develop a complication afterwards. The complication could be a mild infection at the incision site, or a severe fistula. Some patients also experience leakage from the bowel reconnection site. Patients may also experience rapid weight loss, as the body may not be able to digest and absorb calories like it used to before the procedure. Many patients also develop lactose intolerance. They have trouble absorbing fats and become deficient in fat-soluble vitamins and certain minerals.
Some patients also develop diabetes after the Whipple surgery. This is because a huge part of the pancreas is removed. The pancreas is responsible for making and releasing insulin into the blood stream to control blood sugar levels.
When the Whipple procedure is performed in a reputed hospital by an experienced surgeon with skilled staff and good post-operative care, the short-term survival rate for patients is good. The 5-year survival rate is good for patients who have the Whipple procedure before the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes. However, regardless of whether the cancer has metastasized or not, patients are usually recommended chemotherapy or radiation therapy before and after the Whipple procedure, to ensure the cancer doesn’t recur.
If you or a loved one is considering the Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer[15], expert surgical care can make all the difference. Kauvery Hospital, with branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, offers advanced treatment and comprehensive support to help patients through every step of their cancer journey.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet, Radial Road & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and paediatric trauma care.
Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 • Chennai Radial Road – 044 6111 6111 • Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Maa Kauvery Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Kauvery Cancer Institute, Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Maa Kauvery Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Kauvery Cancer Institute, Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 680111
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