UK Woman Celebrates cancer-Free Status After Groundbreaking Liver Transplant
In a remarkable achievement for bowel cancer treatment, a 32-year-old woman from Manchester, Bianca Perea, is now cancer-free after undergoing the UK’s first liver transplant for advanced bowel cancer. Diagnosed with stage four stage four bowel cancer in November 2021, Bianca’s cancer had spread to all eight segments of her liver.
A Fight For Life
doctors initially aimed to prolong Bianca’s life rather than offer a cure. But Bianca, a steadfast trainee lawyer, refused to accept that bleak outlook. “I don’t want to sound kind of ignorant or arrogant or anything like that, but I just didn’t feel in my gut that that was going to be it,” she shared.
Bianca embarked on a rigorous treatment plan,including 37 rounds of the targeted drug panitumumab combined with chemotherapy. This treatment proved highly successful, allowing for the surgical removal of the bowel tumor in May 2023.
Hope Through Transplantation
While scans revealed the absence of bowel cancer, tumors still remained in Bianca’s liver, deemed inoperable. Hope, though, arrived in the form of a groundbreaking liver transplant. Because of Bianca’s excellent response to chemotherapy, doctors considered transplantation a viable option.
added to the transplant list in February 2024, Bianca received the gift of a donor liver last summer.This successful surgery, detailed in a report by Sky News, marked a turning point in Bianca’s battle against cancer.
A Future Filled with Hope
Bianca’s story is a testament to the power of medical innovation and the unwavering spirit of those facing challenging diagnoses. Today, Bianca is cancer-free, a beacon of hope for others battling advanced colorectal cancer. her journey highlights the importance of continued research and the life-saving potential of organ transplantation.
Second Chance at Life: Woman Declared Cancer-Free After Liver Transplant
Bianca Perea’s Christmas was truly miraculous. Diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer and facing a limited lifespan, she received a life-saving liver transplant just before the holidays. Now, thanks to the generosity of an organ donor, Ms. Perea is cancer-free and embracing a second chance at life.
A Remarkable Recovery
Just four weeks after the surgery, Ms. Perea was back on her feet, driving, walking her dogs, and feeling incredibly grateful. “To go from being told I’d only have a short time to live to now being cancer-free is the greatest gift,” she shared. “I’ve been given a second chance at life and I’m going to grab it with both hands. I am so grateful to the family who agreed to donate their loved one’s liver.”
Ms. Perea’s optimism is infectious.“I do believe this is a cure. They’re always hesitant to say that, obviously, but I am cancer-free right now.”
Her outlook is positive as she looks towards the future, planning holidays and focusing on improving her fitness. regular tests and scans confirm her liver is doing well. “I get tests on that, and I’ve just had my second scan and that’s all clear, so it’s really good,” she said.
A Beacon of Hope
Dr. Kalena Marti, Ms. Perea’s oncologist, is thrilled with her progress. “To see that bianca has had such a positive outcome is splendid,” she said. “When we looked at the tumour cells in her liver after it had been removed, they weren’t active.this is excellent news, and we hope that this means that the cancer won’t come back.”
Dr. Marti emphasized the complexity of advanced bowel cancer, noting that treatments vary depending on the individual and the type of cancer. “Consequently, it’s important that we continue to develop new treatments,” she explained.
She also expressed her deep gratitude to organ donors and their families. “Thanks to their generosity, we can now access liver transplants for some patients, which is fantastic.”
To here more about Ms.Perea’s inspiring story, you can watch a full interview with her this morning on Sky News Breakfast at 8:30 am.
