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Anyone in Fort Myers or Naples, Florida, who is looking for an experienced surgeon to perform pancreatic cancer surgery can reach out to the outstanding specialists at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. For patients who have less-common types of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, most experts advise seeking treatment at a high-volume cancer center with a multispecialty team that has extensive experience. As the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, Moffitt has all of that and more.

When it comes to surgery and other treatments for pancreatic cancer, second opinions are of primary importance. That’s because the best possible approach is usually based on input from several specialists. The tumor board at Moffitt is a collaborative group of cancer professionals who specialize in a variety of disciplines, providing our patients with the benefit of multiple expert opinions without referrals. Additionally, all of Moffitt’s team members and services are available in a single location, so patients who travel to Moffitt from Fort Myers or Naples, FL, don’t have to find their way to multiple testing centers and physicians’ offices in an area that may be unfamiliar to them.

If Moffitt’s multispecialty team recommends pancreatic cancer surgery to remove a tumor, the surgical approach can vary. For instance, depending on a patient’s needs, our surgeons can perform any of several different types of pancreatic cancer surgery, including:

  • Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery – A surgeon creates several tiny incisions in the abdomen, then removes small tumors using special surgical instruments.
  • Distal pancreatectomy – A surgeon removes the bottom half of the pancreas to address a tumor that has developed in the tail of the organ.
  • Conventional Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) – A surgeon removes the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, and a portion of the stomach, as well as the gallbladder and a portion of the bile duct. To restore flow of food, digestive enzymes and bile, the surgeon can reconnect the remaining portions of the stomach, bile duct and pancreas to the digestive tract.
  • Pylorus-sparing Whipple procedure – A surgeon performs a pancreaticoduodenectomy but leaves the stomach intact.
  • Total pancreatectomy – A surgeon removes the entire pancreas, gallbladder, bile duct and spleen, along with portions of the stomach and small intestine.

Most patients who travel from Fort Myers or Naples, FL, agree that the benefits of Moffitt’s world-class surgeons and the latest pancreatic cancer surgery techniques more than justifies leaving behind some of the comforts of home. Still, we understand that travel can be inconvenient for our patients, and we offer several supportive services to ease the process, which usually includes finding a comfortable, convenient and affordable place to stay. For interested patients, we can recommend several hotel partners that uphold our high standards and offer discounted rates.

To learn more about pancreatic cancer surgery and other treatment options available at Moffitt, call 1-888-663-3488 or complete a new patient registration form online.

Pancreatic Cancer