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Pancreatic Cancer Surgery: What to Expect at Home

Your Recovery

Surgery for pancreatic cancer removes part or all of the pancreas. Other organs might also have been removed.

Once you are home, be sure to stay in contact with your care team. They can help you manage your pain or other symptoms that you may have. If you have pain, you will have medicine you can take. You will probably feel very tired and weak. Even simple tasks may tire you.

You will probably be able to return to work or your normal routine in about 1 month. It will probably take about 3 months for your strength to come back fully. You may need more treatment for the cancer, such as chemotherapy or radiation.

Most people regain their normal appetite in about 8 weeks. You will probably lose some weight. This is normal.

This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.

How can you care for yourself at home?

Activity

Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover. You will probably want to nap often.
Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
For about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include a child, heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, or a vacuum cleaner.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay.
You may shower, but avoid taking baths until your doctor okays it. Pat the cut (incision) dry. If you still have a drain in place, follow your doctor's instructions about showering with your drain and how to empty and care for it. After showering, replace the dressing if you have one.
Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
You will probably be able to return to work about 4 weeks after you leave the hospital.
Your doctor will tell you when you can have sex again.

Diet

Sometimes the stomach empties food into the small intestine too quickly. This is called dumping syndrome. It can cause diarrhea and make you feel faint, shaky, and nauseated. It also can make it hard for your body to get enough nutrition.
- Avoid high-sugar foods—such as desserts, soda pop, and fruit juices—are most likely to cause dumping syndrome.
- Do not drink liquids within a half hour before eating and up to an hour after eating. Liquids move food even more quickly into the small intestine. Quick emptying of the stomach increases the chance of diarrhea.
- Eat slowly. Try to chew each bite about 20 times. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for each meal.
- Eat 5 or 6 small meals or snacks a day. This may keep you from feeling too full after eating and may reduce problems with diarrhea and dumping syndrome.
If the surgeon did not remove any part of your stomach, you can eat your normal diet. But the surgery affects everyone's digestion differently. You may need to eat more smaller meals instead of fewer larger meals. You may have to try several foods to see what tastes good to you.
Eat healthy food. If you do not feel like eating, try to eat food that has protein and extra calories to keep up your strength and prevent weight loss. Drink liquid meal replacements for extra calories and protein. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
Whenever you eat, you may have to take enzyme pills to replace those the pancreas makes. These help you digest your food, especially fat.
You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fibre supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.

Medicines

Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You will also get instructions about taking any new medicines.
If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
You may have to take anti-ulcer medicine for stomach ulcers.
You may have diabetes. If this is the case, you may have to check your blood sugar and give yourself insulin shots every day.
You may need to take enzyme supplements to replace enzymes the pancreas makes.
Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
- If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
- If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
- Do not take more than two pain medicines at the same time unless your doctor told you to. Many pain medicines contain Tylenol, which is also called acetaminophen. If you take too much acetaminophen, you can become very sick.
If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
- Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
- Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

Incision care

You may feel a ridge along the incision, or cut. This is normal, and it will go away in a few weeks.
Wash the area daily with warm, soapy water and pat it dry, unless your doctor tells you not to. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol as they can slow the healing process.
If you have strips of tape on the cut, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off.
You may see a small amount of clear or light red fluid staining your dressing. This is normal.
You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it is oozing fluid or rubbing against your clothing. If you choose to use a bandage, change it every day.

Exercise

Regular exercise will help you regain strength. Start with walking every day. Your doctor will tell you when you can do more.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

You passed out (lost consciousness).
You are short of breath.

Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:

You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
You have loose stitches, or your incision comes open.
Bright red blood has soaked through the bandage over your incision.
You cannot pass stools or gas.
You are sick to your stomach or cannot drink fluids.
You have signs of a blood clot in your leg (called a deep vein thrombosis), such as:
- Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin.
- Redness or swelling in your leg.
You have signs of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the incision.
- Pus draining from the incision.
- A fever.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if you have any problems.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

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