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Individuals in the West Palm Beach, Florida, area who are considering pancreatic cancer surgery likely have many questions, but may not know where to turn for answers. Accurate information is vital because when it comes to treating pancreatic cancer – which is relatively rare – not all surgeons and cancer centers are the same. The main goal of every patient should be to find an experienced surgeon who can provide the best treatment possible. But, it can often be difficult to determine where to begin.

A common misconception is that it is not possible to just call a top-notch cancer center like Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and get an appointment. This is simply untrue. Moffitt welcomes all patients, including those from West Palm Beach, FL, and beyond, and we don’t require referrals. At Moffitt, we believe that everyone who needs cancer treatment, such as pancreatic cancer surgery, deserves access to a multispecialty team of experts, individualized treatment plans, world-class surgeons, state-of-the-art technologies and promising clinical trials. In a single location, we offer all of this and more.

If Moffitt’s tumor board recommends pancreatic cancer surgery for a patient based on the results of an in-depth evaluation and collaborative case review, the optimal surgical approach will depend on the size and location of the tumor and other individual factors. Moffitt’s surgeons are skilled in the latest surgical techniques and perform several types of pancreatic cancer surgery, including:

  • Minimally invasive laparoscopy – After creating a few small incisions in the abdominal area, a surgeon uses specially designed surgical instruments to address small tumors.
  • Distal pancreatectomy – A surgeon removes the tail and a portion of the body of the pancreas; the head of the organ remains intact.
  • Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) – A surgeon removes the head and part of the body of the pancreas. If any surrounding lymph nodes or the gall bladder, duodenum, bile duct, stomach or small intestine are affected by cancer, parts of those tissues and organs may also be removed. To reestablish the flow of food, bile and digestive enzymes through the digestive system, the surgeon can reattach the remaining pancreas and bile duct to the small intestine.
  • Total pancreatectomy – A surgeon completely removes the pancreas, spleen, gallbladder and bile duct, as well as some parts of the stomach and small intestine.

There’s no question that a cancer diagnosis can turn a person’s world upside-down. During this very difficult time, the prospect of having to travel and be away from home might seem unappealing. With Moffitt, it is unnecessary to allow logistical considerations to get in the way of receiving outstanding cancer treatment. Our supportive care specialists offer a range of complementary services to assist our patients at every point of the cancer journey. Additionally, we can recommend excellent local hotels for patients who travel from West Palm Beach, FL, to Moffitt for pancreatic cancer surgery or other treatments.

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