61 year-old Linda has been diagnosed with cancer twice in the past year. She has already had a kidney removed and now needs further surgery to have a second tumour removed from her pancreas.
This specialist surgery required is called a Whipples procedure and is the only option to remove the tumour growing at the head of the pancreas.
As clinical director for surgery, Jeremy French takes on some of the most challenging cases, specialising in surgery for the pancreas, biliary and liver.
Of this operation Jeremy said: “Linda is extremely unlucky but she is also extremely lucky because if she hadn’t had the kidney cancer then the cancer I am treating in the duodenal wall next to the pancreas would have grown an awful lot bigger.”
This is the second major operation for cancer that Linda has had in the last year. Linda’s cancer is hard to reach as it is in the junction of several major internal organs.
Jeremy has to take out Linda’s gall bladder, pancreas and bowel if the cancer is to be completely removed.
To be told you have cancer and then cancer somewhere else is quite daunting,” said Linda.
“It has been difficult to tell my children that I have cancer. I left it quite late to tell them, and they were upset that I had kept it to myself for a long time.”
Complications from previous surgery
The build-up of scar tissue from Linda’s previous surgery, makes accessing the tumour more difficult.
Jeremy says: “As Linda has had a kidney operation before, this makes the dissection more challenging. Before we can start removing the cancer, we first have to separate Linda’s organs from the scar tissue.”
Nearly an hour into the procedure, Jeremy has safely removed Linda’s gall bladder. However, the most difficult part of the operation still lies ahead.
As Jeremy explains: “The location of the tumour is near major blood vessels, this makes it even more challenging. I need to be careful not to get the major blood vessel that brings blood supply to the heart.”
This is one of the most hazardous stages of the operation.
Removing the tumour intact is critical
Jeremy finally has sight of the cancer. It is critical the tumour is removed intact as to rupture it would risk it returning. Once removed, the painstaking job of reconstruction still lies ahead.
A turning point in the surgery is reached, as Jeremy begins to remove the tumour from Linda’s pancreas. With the tumour removed, the operation is far from over.
The reconstruction of the three joins begins. This is a very delicate procedure as the join from the pancreas to the bowel is a very small duct, at around 3mm. Any tear could result in catastrophic consequences, and the sutures are very thin.
Jeremy reconnects the liver to the bowel with good blood supply and finally, the last join is made from the bowel to the stomach. This is important for Linda to be able to eat and drink normally.
The surgery is a success and the tumour is removed.
Linda is recovering well after surgery, she is back home with her family living a full and active life.
