Adult Living Donor Liver Transplant
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| Mon, 08-06-2007 - 7:54pm |
My husband was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) in March of 2006, 3 weeks after we were married. We were told he had 3-6 months to live. Well here we are almost 18 months later. He has had chemo infusion treatments, 2 chemo embolizations, and 2 therasphere treatments, which have helped keep the tumors from spreading outside of his liver. We have traveled all over the country to get the newest treatments. It was my hope that he he could be down staged to meet criteria for a liver transplant. Even though the treatments were successful, we were told that it didn't matter; they would not waste a liver on someone with cancer because there were too few livers available for transplant. Last month while desperately searching for some other new treatment to save his life, I found a research study sponsored by the Nat'l Institute of Health that is looking for candidates with liver cancer for adult-to-adult living donor transplant. Here is a bit from the web page and the link with info on the 9 hospitals participating in the study.
"There are two principal purposes of this study: 1) to determine whether it is more beneficial for a liver transplant recipient candidate to pursue a living donor liver transplant (LDLT) or wait for a deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT), and 2) to study the impact of liver donation on the donor's health and quality of life.
Condition:
Cirrhosis
Hepatitis C
Hepatocellular Carcinoma"
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00096733?order=94
I called and spoke to a wonderful woman who is head of the research dept at Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital, Richmond, Virginia. She had me send all of my husband's records and after they were reviewed, we now have an appointment next week for evaluation to see if he qualifies for the study and a transplant!! Since the liver can regenerate, they can transplant 1 section or lobe from a healthy donor and both people can grow a new whole liver in as little as 1 month. There are some risks though, such as spreading the cancer cells when manipulating the diseased liver when it is removed.
Anyone here who has liver cancer, it's worth a try. While my husband was having his 2nd chemo embolization 1800 miles away from home, I was having open heart surgery for a mechanical mitral valve replacement. I guess we are getting the "in sickness and in health" part of our wedding vows out of the way right off the bat! We have faith that we will laugh about all this on our 25th wedding anniversary. :-) Where there is life, there is hope!
Edited 8/6/2007 8:24 pm ET by ifdonnawanna

Hi Donna
Have you had any news regarding the transplant?
{{{Philly}}}
((((((((((Donna)))))))))))
I am so very sorry for your loss.