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150: Noelle Gatlin survived Stage II pancreatic cancer | Whipple procedure | pancreatic duodenectomy
Noelle Gatlin had to endure a lengthy, multi-step process, but she survived Stage II pancreatic cancer. A visit to an emergency department revealed a mass near her pancreas. She was transferred to a hospital, where a second CT scan resulted in her diagnosis. Her care team placed a duodenal stent in Noelle, then a bile duct stent. She next underwent a 12-infusion chemotherapy regimen with folfirinox. Then she was ready for a Whipple procedure, a pancreatic duodenectomy, which was a success. Noelle says because she took care of herself before, during and after treatment, she believes she is now in better health than she was before her diagnosis.
In July 2022, Noelle began to experience symptoms associated with food poisoning. At an urgent care, she was diagnosed with gastric reflux, but when stomach became distended, her husband urged her to go to an emergency department. That’s where a CT scan revealed a mass near her pancreas. She was next transferred to a hospital. Wanting very much to vomit, but unable to, with the aid of an NG tube, her stomach was pumped. She underwent another CT scan, then an endoscopy, after which a doctor told her she had Stage II pancreatic cancer.
A duodenal stent was placed in her small intestine so that food could go around where her tumor had closed off her intestinal tract. Noelle then had a bile duct stent placed from her liver. Before she could undergo surgery, she went on a 12-infusion chemotherapy regimen with folfirinox.
Months later came the Whipple Procedure. Hers was a pancreatic duodenectomy. Her gallbladder, the top 20 percent of her pancreas and the first section of her small intestine was removed.
The surgery was a success, and soon Noelle Gatlin returned to her job as a special education teacher in Riverton, Utah. She followed instructions from care team and already enjoyed an active lifestyle. This is why she believes her health today is better than it was prior to her diagnosis.
Additional Resources:
The Pancreatic Action Network (PanCAN): https://www.pancan.org
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By Jim Foster
5
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Noelle Gatlin had to endure a lengthy, multi-step process, but she survived Stage II pancreatic cancer. A visit to an emergency department revealed a mass near her pancreas. She was transferred to a hospital, where a second CT scan resulted in her diagnosis. Her care team placed a duodenal stent in Noelle, then a bile duct stent. She next underwent a 12-infusion chemotherapy regimen with folfirinox. Then she was ready for a Whipple procedure, a pancreatic duodenectomy, which was a success. Noelle says because she took care of herself before, during and after treatment, she believes she is now in better health than she was before her diagnosis.
In July 2022, Noelle began to experience symptoms associated with food poisoning. At an urgent care, she was diagnosed with gastric reflux, but when stomach became distended, her husband urged her to go to an emergency department. That’s where a CT scan revealed a mass near her pancreas. She was next transferred to a hospital. Wanting very much to vomit, but unable to, with the aid of an NG tube, her stomach was pumped. She underwent another CT scan, then an endoscopy, after which a doctor told her she had Stage II pancreatic cancer.
A duodenal stent was placed in her small intestine so that food could go around where her tumor had closed off her intestinal tract. Noelle then had a bile duct stent placed from her liver. Before she could undergo surgery, she went on a 12-infusion chemotherapy regimen with folfirinox.
Months later came the Whipple Procedure. Hers was a pancreatic duodenectomy. Her gallbladder, the top 20 percent of her pancreas and the first section of her small intestine was removed.
The surgery was a success, and soon Noelle Gatlin returned to her job as a special education teacher in Riverton, Utah. She followed instructions from care team and already enjoyed an active lifestyle. This is why she believes her health today is better than it was prior to her diagnosis.
Additional Resources:
The Pancreatic Action Network (PanCAN): https://www.pancan.org