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Is Liver Transplantation Advisable When Diagnosed With Liver Metastasis?

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Posted on Thu, 21 Jul 2016
Question: Hello Dr. XXXXXXX
I am worried about my aunt's health . She is getting treated at Shankara cancer hospital. XXXXXXX now the condition is getting worse as her legs are been swollen too much .every day they are removing water from stomach . I need your help in this
as per doctor only one option is let that is of liver transplant . ..please help us we are in lot of tension .now her condition has no improvement .. and lso she has lung cancer .. please help us some possible way to help her live
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
She should not have to repent living the rest of her days.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Our body is made of cells. These cells have the capacity to divide and as the older ones die, the newer ones take their place. When due to some error the control over division is lost, it gives rise to cancer. Since all the cancerous cells have the error, each and individual cell is equally harmful and disastrous. Cancer in the liver has already rendered it useless. Since the liver manufactures the vital proteins and since the liver is non-functional, the lack of proteins is leading to the accumulation of water and hence the problem. But that is not all. In the meantime, the cancerous cells have dislodged and through the blood steam they have travelled to distant organs by a process called metastasis. Some of them have landed in the lungs and caused a cancer there. It is just a matter of time before cancer surfaces up in other organs as well. So, you might decide to get the liver replaced but can you afford to replace practically ALL the organs of her body, including her bones? If not, I would not advise you to go for a liver transplant. Her life is already in a mess and do not land her in further mess only to buy some nominal amount of time.

Arrive at the fact that her days are numbered. But that does not mean that you cannot make her live. You can definitely make her remaining days worthwhile and help her make these few days the best in her life. I understand there are medical complications but try to ascertain the best possible quality of life for the limited number of days she has.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (26 hours later)
so is there no any other way .. so we cannot even have liver transplant ...
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
The spread has already occurred.

Detailed Answer:
You can definitely go for a liver transplant but after so much hassles you will gain only a nominal amount of time. It is only a matter of time before other complications due to metastasis sets in. As it seems, the spread has already occurred and the lung is already involved.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1954

Answered : 4467 Questions

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Is Liver Transplantation Advisable When Diagnosed With Liver Metastasis?

Brief Answer: She should not have to repent living the rest of her days. Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. Our body is made of cells. These cells have the capacity to divide and as the older ones die, the newer ones take their place. When due to some error the control over division is lost, it gives rise to cancer. Since all the cancerous cells have the error, each and individual cell is equally harmful and disastrous. Cancer in the liver has already rendered it useless. Since the liver manufactures the vital proteins and since the liver is non-functional, the lack of proteins is leading to the accumulation of water and hence the problem. But that is not all. In the meantime, the cancerous cells have dislodged and through the blood steam they have travelled to distant organs by a process called metastasis. Some of them have landed in the lungs and caused a cancer there. It is just a matter of time before cancer surfaces up in other organs as well. So, you might decide to get the liver replaced but can you afford to replace practically ALL the organs of her body, including her bones? If not, I would not advise you to go for a liver transplant. Her life is already in a mess and do not land her in further mess only to buy some nominal amount of time. Arrive at the fact that her days are numbered. But that does not mean that you cannot make her live. You can definitely make her remaining days worthwhile and help her make these few days the best in her life. I understand there are medical complications but try to ascertain the best possible quality of life for the limited number of days she has. Regards