Most treatment methods for Pancreatic Cancer including the Whipple Procedure are considered to be effective. As per Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis, you would find that a treatment method is considered effective if it achieves two things - 1) It cures Pancreatic Cancer completely, and 2) It allows the patients to lead a normal life after the treatment is over. In case of highly effective methods, you would find that people live better after the treatment though they do worry about a lot of lifestyle habits.