Doctors in Dubai conduct rare procedure to treat pancreatic cancer patient

Doctors in Dubai saved the life of a man with pancreatic cancer using a rare technique known as the Whipple procedure.

The operation – known medically as a pancreaticoduodenectomy – removes the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and bile duct.

The remaining organs are then reattached to allow food to be digested normally.

Paul Morris, 73, a retired army professional who still lives in Baghdad, decided to travel to Dubai to receive cancer care instead of to his home country, the US, owing to the high numberof Covid-19 cases.

The operation was carried out on March 2 at American Hospital Dubai.

“The Whipple operation is a lifesaving procedure, and patients that do well in the first seven days post-surgery often see the most successful recovery rates,” professor of surgery Dr Ali Al Dameh said.

He performed the lifesaving surgery on Mr Morris with his colleague Dr Imran Al Haq.

“Moreover, early-stage detection of cancers often provides the best chance of treatment and cure," Dr Al Dameh said.

The operation was carried out on March 2 at American Hospital Dubai.

“Around three to five years back, patients diagnosed with [this type of] cancer would not have much help,” Dr Ali said.

“However, the possibility of performing such complex surgical procedures like the Whipple operation now allows people to battle the tumours with a high level of success rate and fewer chances of complications.”

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A notoriously fatal form of cancer, up to 10 per cent of patients who receive an early diagnosis become disease-free after treatment. For patients who are diagnosed before the tumour grows significantly or spreads, the average pancreatic cancer survival time is up to 3.5 years.

Dr Ali said, in older patients, the tumour's position can make it a challenging and risky surgery. In addition, diagnosing the cancer condition at such a late stage makes patient recovery even harder.

“It gives me great satisfaction to be able to provide a new hope of recovery to the cancer patients, who are usually traumatised emotionally, psychologically, socially and professionally, when they learn about their disease,” Dr Ali said.

“Mr Morris was discharged on day seven of his operation and is recovering well with no complications.”

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

UAE rugby in numbers

5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons

700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams

Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams

Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season

Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season

RACE RESULTS

1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps

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If you go

Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

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