Finally! A Much-Needed Liver Transplant

When my husband was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in September 2022, our world shifted overnight. HCC is the most common type of liver cancer, and it usually develops in people who already have chronic liver disease. In his case, the diagnosis didn’t just mean cancer—it meant grappling with the fact that his liver was already compromised. We were thrown into a cycle of scans, blood tests, and consultations with specialists, each conversation reminding us how serious this was.

HCC isn’t a simple condition to manage. Every treatment decision depended not only on the tumours themselves but also on how well his liver was working. We learned quickly that staging mattered. Doctors used systems that assessed tumour size, symptoms, and liver function to determine what options were even possible.

His care initially focused on monitoring and controlling symptoms, and keeping him strong. He then had 3 sessions of chemotherapy, and an ablation, which can hold the tumours at bay. When he was added to the transplant waiting list in April 2024, we felt both relief and fear. Relief because transplantation was his only real chance at a cure. Fear because waiting lists are unpredictable, and time doesn’t always feel like it’s on your side with cancer.

Third time lucky! After two previous false alarms and 16 months on the waiting list, my husband received his new liver on Friday.

The call came at 2.30 pm on Thursday, and the medical transport arrived an hour later. He was settled on the ward at Addenbrookes Hospital by 6.00 pm and in the early hours of Friday morning, was advised that he was going into surgery at 3.45 am.

After much anxious waiting, I received a call from a friendly, supportive liver doctor at 2.00 pm, who reassured me that everything had gone smoothly, and they were very happy with how he was doing. His breathing tube was removed immediately on admittance to the Intensive Care Unit, his blood pressure was stable, and new liver working as expected.

I received a further update from his nurse at 9.00 pm Friday night, and was able to speak to him! He continues to do well, I spoke to him again yesterday and this morning, and although very tired, and struggling to talk, he wasn't in much pain, although of course, its early days.

I wish to express my grateful thanks to all the wonderful staff at Addenbrookes, and my thoughts are with the donor family, and hope that they will know what a difference their life-changing generosity has made to us.

Regular check-ups and anti-rejection medication will be part of his life forever, but he has been given a second chance—and that is something we will never take for granted.

What We Learned About Prognosis

Throughout this journey, we asked countless questions about life expectancy. The truth is, it depends on when HCC is caught and what treatments are available.

For people diagnosed early and treated with a transplant, five-year survival rates can be as high as 70–80%.

For those with more advanced disease, survival is shorter, often measured in months or a couple of years, depending on the treatment.

Why Organ Donation Matters

I can only hope that more people will consider becoming organ donors. Without the incredible generosity of a stranger and their family, my husband would not survive for much longer. That one decision has completely changed our lives, giving us more years together, more milestones to share, and more time for hope. Organ donation is the greatest gift a person can give, and we will always carry deep gratitude for it.