UK's first liver transplant for bowel most cancers deemed successful

The first affected person with superior bowel most cancers in Britain to have a liver transplant after the illness unfold has mentioned she has been given a “second chance at life”.

Bianca Perea, a 32-year-old trainee lawyer from Wigan, Greater Manchester, had the pioneering operation in the summertime of 2024.

Her liver transplant was deemed a significant success, that means that after additional therapies together with focused drug remedy, chemotherapy and surgical procedure, Ms Periya not has any signs of most cancers.

She mentioned: “When I was told I only had a short time left to live, now being cancer-free is the greatest gift.”

Ms Periya was 29 when she first met her physician after affected by constipation and bloating.

After being despatched to hospital for assessments, he was given the devastating information in November 2021 that he had stage 4 bowel most cancers, which had unfold to all eight segments of his liver.

She mentioned: “I haven't really had any bad symptoms. I've noticed a change in my bowel habits and also noticed some bloating and a little pain in the stomach.”

Ms Perea was referred to the native therapy heart at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Wigan in early December 2021.

There, he was given 37 rounds of a focused drug referred to as panitumumab in addition to chemotherapy for 2 and a half years.

His response to therapy was excellent, which meant he might have surgical procedure in May 2023 to take away his bowel tumor.

However, scans revealed that she nonetheless had a tumor in her liver, which couldn’t be eliminated.

Nevertheless, as a result of his response to chemotherapy was so good, and his bowel most cancers was gone, medical doctors started to contemplate a liver transplant.

Ms Periya was added to the transplant record in February 2024.

A match was discovered and he acquired his new liver at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

She mentioned: “Within four weeks of going under the knife, I was able to walk and walk the family dogs, it was quite incredible really.

“I have been given a second chance at life and I will grab it with both hands. I am very grateful to the family who agreed to donate their loved one's liver.”

He said it is a “blessing” that his donor has not only helped him, but has become a part of medical history.

She said she is looking forward to going on vacation this year and working on improving her fitness.

“My liver is working really well,” she said.

“I got tests done on that, and I've just had a second scan and it's all clear, so it's really good.”

Dr Kalena Marty, who was Ms Perea's oncologist at The Christie, mentioned: “It is wonderful to see that Bianca has had such a positive outcome.

“When we looked at the tumor cells from his liver after they were removed, they were not active.

“This is very good news, and we hope it means the cancer will not come back.”

He said that while a liver transplant “will not be an option for everyone”, the success of Ms Periya's treatment has provided “more hope” for others.

Dr Marty said: “Advanced bowel cancer is complex and there are many different types of disease, so what works for one person may not work for another.

“As a result, it is important that we continue to develop new treatments.”

Dr Ian Rowe, honorary consultant hepatologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted that Bianca has responded so well to treatment and is now cancer free.

“Of course, we are indebted to the organ donor's family – as Bianca's case makes clear, organ donation saves lives.”

However, he additionally issued a warning.

“I think hope is important but the reality is this will be a cure for a small portion of people.

“It would be the right thing for those people, and we think it will work well.

“The number of people transplanted in this way is still very low internationally so we are all still learning what those rules should be.

“Over time they will change and we will learn which patients will do better so we can better select those people.”

An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson mentioned: “The waiting list for organ transplants is the highest it has been in a decade.”

He mentioned that organ donation “saves lives” and described donors and their households as “truly inspiring”.

He mentioned he hoped “the story of the donation that changed Bianca's life will inspire people to confirm their decision to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register – meaning your family will be certain that you will receive an organ.” Want to be a giver.”