WMCHealth Surgeons Offer Same Procedure that Helped NFL Star

When NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss revealed his cancer diagnosis on Instagram, he did more than share his personal health journey—he shed light on one of medicine's most intricate surgical procedures. After experiencing concerning symptoms, including urine discoloration, Moss underwent a Whipple procedure, marking a turning point in his battle against the cancer found between his pancreas and liver.

What is the Whipple Procedure?

"It's an enormous operation," said Gregory Veillette, MD, a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon at WMCHealth. "It requires removing and reconstructing multiple organs that are all interconnected."

The Whipple procedure treats three main types of cancer: pancreatic, bile duct and duodenal cancer. It can also address chronic pancreatitis and certain precancerous conditions.

"We have to take out three structures that are married together: the head of the pancreas, the duodenum (first portion of the small intestine) and part of the bile duct," said Dr. Veillette. "These structures are so intertwined that you can't remove one without affecting the others."

A Procedure That Demands Expertise

Modern surgical advances have dramatically improved outcomes. "In the 70s and 80s, mortality rates for the Whipple procedure were 20-25 percent," noted Dr. Veillette. "Today at advanced medical centers like ours, the success rate is remarkable, with serious complications occurring in only a small percentage of cases."

The Recovery Journey

Recovery requires patience and careful monitoring. Initially, patients:

• Stay in the hospital for 5-7 days
• Often have temporary drainage tubes
• Need 3-4 weeks before returning to normal activity

"The most challenging part is dietary recovery," Dr. Veillette said. "Patients can't eat full meals for about a month or two after surgery. They get full quickly and may experience nausea as their body adjusts to the reconstructed digestive system."

Expert Care Matters

Research consistently shows that outcomes improve at centers performing a high volume of pancreatic surgeries. WMCHealth is one of the region's leading centers for pancreatic and liver surgery; our experienced surgical team maintains the expertise and advanced capabilities needed for these complex procedures.

Like Moss, who recently announced his cancer survivorship and plans for follow-up treatment, patients who undergo the Whipple procedure face challenges but benefit from continual advances in surgical expertise and post-operative care.

For more information about WMCHealth’s Department of Surgery, visit our website or call 914.493.7000 to make an appointment.