could a liver transplant cure liver cancer?

Answer 1

I doubt it!! As soon as the liver is moved cells would be disturbed and would be more likely to shift to other parts of the body and grow there. Even if the cancer was confined to teh liver its unlikely it would stay that way...;

Answer 2

Not by definition of cure. One would receive a "New" liver that does not have evidence of cancer in it. After getting a match then you have all sorts of other problems to overcome. First there has to be no evidence of cancer anywhere else in the body and that is sometimes hard to determine .Just because the tests don't reveal it now, there still could be a issue of cancer later on that didn't show up before. Think about your question. If someone has liver cancer and needs a transplant then of course it could potentially 'cure' the cancer. You are taking out the cancerous liver and replacing it with a potential healthy one. After that, you have all the anti-rejection problems to deal with and if you survive the transplant, you can possibly have a good chance of living several more years but not always.

Answer 3

Once the liver is gone, the liver cancer is gone. The only problem is if it moved to other parts of the body or if it is in the bloodstream it can go to the lymphnodes and other organs. That is why they generally do radiation or chemo.
Or the doctors may elect to take part of the liver out as a good liver can regrow the area cut out. If it is a bad liver from cirosis then it becomes harder.
If you were suggested for a liver transplant, get on the list right away even if you have not decided this is best for you. It can take years to get a liver and the clock is ticking. Once you get other side effects from the cancer it is less likely you will still be a candidtate for this operation.

Good Luck

Answer 4

HERE ARE THE FACTS!

I have had a liver transplant and a huge education about livers

you will be moved to the top of the waiting list for an organ
if the tumor is not larger than a dime or so. I am not certain of the specs go to http://www.unos.org for all the facts.

my new liver hs given me new life and Im doing great!
anti rejection drugs are just a small annoyance not a problem

I did not have liver cancer however I met people in he hospital who had. it took me two years waiting for an organ because the cancer patients get first dibs!

Answer 5

If you have secondary liver cancer, usually having spread from your colon, then no, transplant is not an option. If you have primary liver cancer, HCC or sometimes intra hepatic cholangiocarcinoma's, then yes, transplant can sometimes be possible. The first rule is that the tumour has to be solitary (as HCC is often multi-focal) and under 5cm in diameter to even be considered for tranplantation. Aside from the workl up as mentioned in other answers for the transplant, as most HCC's occur in a background of a cirrhotic liver, commonly from ethanol abuse, HBV, HCV and haemachromatosis, it is worth noting that in many cases, this disease can return.

You can have a transplant if you are an alcoholic, providing you can prove abstinance.

Answer 6

i don't think it has ever been proven that liver resection or transplant can cure cancer. livers are very hard to come by and the chances are down to tissue matching. if there is cancer in the liver it is possible for it to have gone to other parts such as the pancreas or the brain, but there are other treatments out there in combination to surgery.x

Answer 7

Maybe it would, but they dont usually give transplants to cancer patients. No matter what cancer or where it is, transplants are saved for patients that are more likely to survive (cause they havent had cancer)

I know of a young girl who has had leukaemia, the chemo affeted her heart she now has a pace maker. Although she is in remission and it was the chemo that affected her heart, they wont even consider a transplant. Its very sad.

Answer 8

possibly but if you did have liver cancer then you wouldn't be strong enough to have the transplant operation.

you can't have the operation if you have a simple cold so cancer would rule you right out.

Answer 9

If the cancer has not moved beyond the liver then yes..

Answer 10

Possible, but outcomes appear to depend on the type and stage of the cancer. Resection vs transplant, poor for certain types, and good for others.

See the links below, but they are not the most recent.
Look for newer studies and treatment.

I saw a new article that showed promise, but didnt track it down.
See the first link below (most recent ).