Liver transplant

[JanisLBS]

I am wondering if it is common policy that all hospitals will refuse to do a transplant on anyone that has had cancer in the past five years. I recently had my thyroid removed due to thyroid cancer, however, no chemo or radiation was needed....would this still be considered as cancer?

[mammo]

Organs are given to the healthiest and younger patients, with regards to their overall health.  Maybe once you are past the 5 year mark for being cancer free, you would have a better chance.

[passagrille]

i believe steve jobs (apple ceo)had cancer and got a liver fairly soon after.

[grendslori]

I think it totally depends on what type of transplant you are having. I know with the heart transplant, they won't consider it because of the immuno drugs; cancers have a tendency to reoccur with the drugs.

[orphanedhawk]

I knew of a woman denied  a transplant despite the fact her cancer returned after 20 years. But others have had tps despite having cancer.
I think there are some very specific parameters and only a doctor ( and the right one, at that) can tell you what they are.

I had a live liver transplant which therefore made my MELD score irrelevant.
Don't give up hope.

OH

[mikesimon]

Your statement is incorrect:

"Organs are given to the healthiest and younger patients, with regards to their overall health.  Maybe once you are past the 5 year mark for being cancer free, you would have a better chance."

Organs are allocated on the basis of the MELD scoring system - the sickest get the organ assuming there are no excluding factors such as active cancer, drug or alcohol issues or severe cardiac disease etc.

Mike

[grendslori]

Is the MELD score used just for the liver transplant. I don't think the heart transplant is the same.  

[grendslori]

I forgot to mention that it is not always the sickest ones to recieve the heart transplant; it has to do more with the body's antibodies and how good the match would be. So the reality, as far as hearts go anywy, is you may be at the top of the list waiting for the heart, but if your bloodworkup isn't as good as a person #2309, he gets the heart. People think that you automatically get the next heart that is available if you are at the top of the list; not true.

[franke566]

Hi Mike.  I didn't know there was a transplant site on the forums.  Recognized your name-anyway when you say severe cardiac disease do you mean that is the opinion of the cardiologist or the Organ transplant powers that be.  I have mild COPD and had a mild ventricular infarction w ischemia.  My cardiologist said it should not keep me off the list but my Hepatologist says it will so he isn't considering it.  I checked him out and he was hand picked by the liver pioneer Clintmalm or Klintmalm so what gives.  Now it's on my record and other Hepatologists sided w him.