Manchester woman beats cancer after groundbreaking liver transplant
A 32-year-old woman has been given the all-clear from cancer after undergoing the UK’s first liver transplant for advanced bowel cancer.
Bianca Perea, a trainee lawyer from Manchester, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in November 2021.
The cancer had spread to all eight segments of her liver, leaving her with limited treatment options.
But, after receiving targeted drug therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, she underwent a successful liver transplant last summer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and now shows no signs of cancer.
Ms Perea first visited her GP in Wigan with symptoms including bloating and changes in bowel habits.
She initially sought medical advice after feeling constipated and bloated. Following a colonoscopy and biopsy, doctors diagnosed her with advanced bowel cancer that had spread to her liver.
“I remember everything slowing down when I was told,” she said. “The doctor said they were looking to prolong my life rather than cure the cancer. But I refused to believe that was the end of the road.”
She was then referred to the Christie NHS Foundation Trust’s local treatment centre in Wigan in early December 2021.
Ms Perea underwent 37 rounds of a targeted drug called panitumumab alongside chemotherapy for two and a half years, resulting in a significant reduction in the cancer.
In May 2023, she had surgery to remove the primary bowel tumour, but inoperable tumours remained in her liver.
Due to her remarkable response to treatment, doctors considered a liver transplant - a procedure not typically performed for bowel cancer patients.
She was added to the transplant list in February 2024 and underwent surgery later that summer.
“Within four weeks, I was able to drive and walk the family dogs,” Ms Perea said. “To go from being told I had limited time to live to now being cancer-free is the greatest gift.”
The success of Ms Perea’s treatment represents a significant advancement in the fight against advanced bowel cancer.
Dr Kalena Marti, her oncologist at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, said the case highlights the potential of liver transplants in specific cancer cases.
“When we examined the tumour cells in her liver, they weren’t active,” Dr Marti said.
“This is excellent news, and we hope this means the cancer won’t return. While advanced bowel cancer is complex, this breakthrough shows how personalized treatments can make a difference.”
Dr Ian Rowe, a consultant hepatologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, praised the importance of organ donation in making such treatments possible.
“Organ donation saves lives,” he said. “Bianca’s case underscores why it’s essential for people to register their decision to donate and discuss it with their families.”
Now cancer-free, Ms Perea is focused on rebuilding her life. She is improving her fitness and planning her first holiday in years.
“My liver is doing really well,” she said. “I’ve had my second scan, and it’s all clear. I’ve been given a second chance, and I’m going to grab it with both hands.”