On 3/26/2008
tocco wrote:
Is there any reason why a family member or friend can not give a portion of there liver to a pt with a non resectable tumor? They tell me that my fathers ca is non-resectable, however, the primary tumor in the pancreas has not moved. The problem is in the liver where he has mult. tumors over bilateral lobes. Doesn't the liver regenerate? Why can we not remove the primary tumor and transplant the liver? I realize it would be a large procedure but, the alternative is we allow the disease to progress and he will die! What is the problem with exploring this idea?
My husband had kidney cancer in 2/07 than had a liver resection in 7/07 when they found primary liver cancer. Vanderbilt has worked him up for a liver transplant but we are in holding mode till the see cancer return. From what I know, the donor must have the same blood type and be the same bodily size as the recipient. Some hospital and/or insurance companies are sometimes relunctant to do liver tramsplant if patient has had another cancer-chance of it returning are always possible and if cancer in original liver is large, the chance is good that the cancer cells have already spread outside the liver and would invade the new liver. A friend of ours(in his 40's) had 80% of his liver removed (miracle he is alive) and they will not do a transplant cause risk of cancer invading new liver is too great.
Keep asking lots of questions and reseaching everything you can. My husband's oncologist said transplant was not an option for him but liver surgeon disagreed & got us in at Vanderbilt & they say he is a good candidate. Good luck to you and your father.