A Pancreatic Cancer Survivor’s Whipple Surgery Story | Darius Dunn

Darius Dunn’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Whipple surgery and recovery

Made In Hemp founder Darius Dunn shares his pancreatic cancer survivor story after being diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour, also known as a pNET, together with an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, or IPMN, following almost 20 years of unexplained symptoms.

In the interview below, Darius speaks about his diagnosis, undergoing a Whipple procedure, recovery after major pancreatic surgery, support from his family and the Pancare Foundation, and where prescribed medicinal cannabis fitted into his broader recovery alongside — never instead of — surgery, medical treatment and ongoing care.

This is not a story about a miracle cure. It is one person’s lived experience, shared honestly and with the hope that it may help other patients and families feel less alone.

Watch: A Pancreatic Cancer Survivor’s Whipple Surgery Story

Hear Darius explain the symptoms that went undiagnosed for years, his pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour and IPMN diagnosis, the Whipple procedure and what life and recovery looked like after major pancreatic surgery.

You can also watch A Pancreatic Cancer Survivor’s Whipple Surgery Story directly on YouTube.

Almost 20 years of unexplained symptoms

For close to two decades, Darius experienced recurring symptoms and continued searching for an explanation. He visited different doctors, underwent investigations and repeatedly tried to communicate that something did not feel right.

Often, he was told that nothing appeared to be wrong. At one stage, he felt his concerns were being questioned rather than properly explained. Living with symptoms without answers became frustrating, isolating and increasingly difficult.

In 2020, the symptoms intensified dramatically after he returned home from dinner. Darius began reviewing information about the pancreas and then went back through reports from scans and investigations he had undergone over the previous 15 to 20 years.

While reviewing those records, he realised that many areas of his body had been examined, but his pancreas had not.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour and IPMN diagnosis

Darius was eventually diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour, commonly shortened to pancreatic NET or pNET, together with an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, known as an IPMN.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours develop in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas. They are different from the more common cancers that begin in the pancreatic ducts. In Darius’ case, the diagnosis was cancer and required major surgical treatment.

The diagnosis came not long after Darius had lost his sister to breast cancer. During that period, the family also learned that Darius and his sister carried a genetic mutation associated with an increased predisposition to cancer.

Like any life-changing diagnosis, it changed everything in an instant. Life became appointments, scans, decisions, uncertainty and an urgent effort to understand the available treatment options.

“I’d rather be an optimist and be wrong, if necessary, than be pessimistic and be right.”
— Darius Dunn

Finding support through Pancare Foundation

While researching his diagnosis, Darius found the Pancare Foundation, an Australian organisation supporting people affected by pancreatic, liver, biliary, oesophageal and stomach cancers.

He contacted Pancare and spoke with a support team member named Shannon. Darius remembers the relief of speaking with someone who understood what he was experiencing and had time to listen to his questions, fears and treatment considerations.

Medical appointments can move quickly, particularly when specialists are managing complex cases and significant workloads. The additional time, guidance and emotional support offered by Pancare helped Darius feel more informed and less alone during an overwhelming period.

He also found value in connecting with other patients and support networks where people could share experiences, ask questions and provide reassurance during difficult moments.

Whipple surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital

After researching his options, Darius felt confident in the specialist team at Royal North Shore Hospital.

The tumour was considered operable, and in September 2020 Darius underwent a Whipple procedure, also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy.

A Whipple procedure is major abdominal surgery generally used when a tumour is located in or near the head of the pancreas. Depending on the individual operation, it can involve removing the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and part of the bile duct, followed by reconstruction of the digestive system.

Darius remembers waking after the operation, seeing his wife and children and thinking, “I made it.”

His surgical team was confident that the affected tissue had been removed, but the operation marked the beginning of another significant stage: recovery and adapting to changes in how his body functioned.

Recovery after Whipple surgery

Recovery from pancreatic cancer and major abdominal surgery is not a single moment of “getting better.” It can be a long and uneven process involving physical healing, digestive changes, disrupted sleep, stress, anxiety and the emotional weight of everything that has happened.

Following the procedure, Darius says his pancreas remained able to produce insulin, but his body was no longer producing enough digestive enzymes. He began pancreatic enzyme replacement to support digestion.

There were also the everyday realities of trying to return to family life, work and purpose while carrying the memory of the diagnosis and operation. Anyone who has experienced a serious illness, or supported someone through one, understands that recovery is rarely only physical.

For Darius, patience, medical care, family support, patient networks and a strong sense of optimism all became important parts of moving forward.

Where prescribed medicinal cannabis fitted into his recovery

Alongside conventional treatment and under medical guidance, Darius explored prescribed medicinal cannabis as one part of his broader recovery support.

This was not about replacing surgery, treating the cancer himself or stepping away from medical care. It was about supporting comfort, rest and quality of life during recovery from a serious diagnosis and major operation.

For Darius, the experience was meaningful. It shaped the way he thinks about cannabis — not as a cure-all, but as a complex plant that deserves informed, responsible and compassionate discussion in conversations about patient support.

Life in the years after Whipple surgery

In the years since the operation, Darius has shared that he has received a clean bill of health.

It is a milestone he does not take lightly. It carries gratitude, perspective and a deeper understanding of how fragile and resilient life can be at the same time.

Prescribed medicinal cannabis did not replace medicine, surgery, follow-up appointments or ongoing monitoring. It was one part of Darius’ personal recovery story, alongside specialist treatment, family support, pancreatic enzyme replacement and the patient networks that helped him navigate the experience.

Why Darius’ story matters to Made In Hemp

Made In Hemp has always been personal.

Long before conversations about medicinal cannabis became more common in Australia, we were already working with industrial hemp through clothing, skincare, food, education and customer conversations.

Darius’ diagnosis and recovery added another layer to that work. It strengthened our belief that people deserve honest information that avoids both exaggerated promises and fear-based stigma.

This experience is not presented as proof of a treatment outcome. It is part of the lived experience behind the business and one of the reasons we continue to support clearer, more mature conversations about hemp, cannabinoids, medicinal cannabis, patient experience and Australian plant-based innovation.

A personal mission, not a miracle claim

Darius will be the first to say that this is only his story.

What formed part of his recovery may not be suitable for another person. Every cancer diagnosis, operation, medical history and treatment pathway is different.

Personal stories still matter because they remind us that behind every policy debate, clinical study and treatment discussion are real people trying to find information, comfort, clarity and hope.

That is why we believe conversations about hemp and cannabis should be mature, compassionate and honest.

Not exaggerated. Not fear-based. Not hidden behind stigma.

Just clearer, kinder and better informed.

From healing to growing

Darius’ experience is also part of the reason Made In Hemp has continued to deepen its relationship with the plant — from hemp foods and skincare through to licensed industrial hemp growing.

You can read more about that next chapter in From Healing to Growing: Why We Became Licensed Hemp Growers.

For more general education about CBD, THC, cannabinoids, access and terminology, visit our Understanding Medical Cannabis in Australia information hub.