Robotic-Assisted Whipple Surgery Beats Pancreatic Cancer

After receiving a life-changing diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on his 50th wedding anniversary, Rex is now celebrating a new lease on life. Fox 4 News’s Latoya Silmon had the pleasure of interviewing Rex and his wife and Dr. Alejandro Mejia who performed the robotic-assisted whipple procedure using the da Vinci® minimally invasive surgical system. Dr. Mejia is one of only a few surgeons in the country who can perform this type of surgery.

The American Cancer Society reports, Pancreatic cancer is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Offering hope to patients with pancreatic cancer, The Liver Institute at Methodist Dallas Medical Center is the only program in the Southwest to offer the Pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as ‘whipple’, treatment using the minimally invasive da Vinci® robotic system. Dr. Mejia states that they “feel and believe it makes a difference for these patient’s recovery and journey through this disease.” In fact, patient Rex returned to work practicing law in the Waco area only a short two and a half weeks after his surgery. Rex was Dr. Mejia’s third patient to undergo the procedure, who has since completed over 20 robotic whipple surgeries while doctors from around the country observe this amazing medical advancement.

Rex and his wife expressed their gratitude to Dr. Mejia and The Liver Institute for providing the opportunity to extend Rex’s life cancer-free.

Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

The Liver Institute at Methodist Dallas offers pancreatic cancer treatments as well as various robotic-assisted surgeries. Feel free to contact us for more information.