(This is Donn's old profile - for his new profile as of 3/16/23, go to
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donnbarber2 or search for donnbarber2)
This is where I will be updating my recovery process from surgery for pancreatic cancer on April 4, 2017.
The chemo completely “knocked his socks off.” He finally, after 8 infusions said no more. They are giving him a break now. Each day away from chemo he feels better. We had an almost whole hour with the surgeon this week, going over the pros and cons of surgery. If just continuing chemo and no surgery, he gives him about 2 years. The surgery is very difficult and extremely involved taking 5-6 hours. Only a few doctors in Twin Cities are able to do it. We have decided to go for it.
They remove part of the pancreas, intestines, and stomach and then reconstruct. They equate the difficulty to be close to open heart surgery. He will be in the hospital 7-10 days and then about 3 months in a rehab facility. The surgery date is April 4. Donn said he was nervous about it and the surgeon said: “You should be!!”
