Original story published 2024-09-25 17:38:45
In a groundbreaking medical endeavor, surgeons at Northwestern Medicine successfully performed an unprecedented organ transplant designed to combat metastatic colon cancer. The procedure, first attempted in June, involved meticulously removing all cancer cells from a 42-year-old patient’s lungs before implanting new lungs. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2017, the patient, a native of Lake Zurich, had seen the disease spread quickly from her colon to her liver. Despite multiple treatments, including a liver transplant donated by her brother, her cancer had returned, making survival increasingly improbable.
Over three months of recovery and rigorous testing, including advanced DNA analysis of her blood, have revealed no detectable signs of cancer in her body. The groundbreaking procedure, which involved meticulous removal of cancerous cells from both lungs followed by a double lung transplant, has opened new avenues for patients who have exhausted all other treatment options.
The surgical team at Northwestern Medicine aims to broaden the adoption of their innovative technique to other medical centers nationwide, potentially providing new hope for countless patients facing aggressive metastatic cancers. As she rang the bell marking what she fervently hopes to be her final cancer treatment, the milestones in this patient’s journey underscore a significant breakthrough that could transform cancer care.
