According to the Center for Health Protection of the Hong Kong Department of Health, liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Hong Kong. In 2019, there were 1,876 new cases of liver cancer, 1,448 of which were males, making it the fourth most common cancer in men; 428 cases were females, the most common cancer in women Cancer No. 11. The 57-year-old Hong Kong father Ken is a cancer survivor, but in his 57 years of life, he has lived with liver-related health problems almost all of his life because he was a patient with hepatitis B infection from his mother. Ken has experienced 4 recurrences of liver cancer, and has been on the verge of life and death many times. Fortunately, in 2019, he received a part of the liver donated by his daughter, and successfully underwent liver replacement surgery, saving his life and recovering.
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Liver cirrhosis viral load in millions
In an interview with Sky Post, Ken said that his family, including both parents and younger siblings, had a history of hepatitis B, so he thought he was a maternal hepatitis B patient. Later, his mother died of liver cirrhosis 30 years ago, and his father died at 10. He also passed away from liver cancer many years ago. Ken has never felt any special pain or influence, so he didn’t know that he actually had an underlying disease in his body; he was not told that he had hepatitis B until he participated in the campus blood donation day of the Hong Kong Red Cross at school in junior high school,
“At that time, I had no idea what “hepatitis B” was, because there was no relevant publicity at that time, there were no relevant advertisements in newspapers, and I could not browse government websites, so I knew nothing about this disease. I only knew that there was a virus in the body. development, but it can be completely without feeling and has no impact on the big and small things in life.”
At the age of 30, Ken went to the clinic for a physical examination because of the company’s requirements. At that time, he was only told that he had hepatitis B, and no other physical problems were found out. A few years later, in 2000, he went to the clinic again for a more detailed examination on a whim. Physical examination, after blood tests, X-rays, and ultrasound scans, it was found that there was a problem with the liver.
“I was told that I had fatty liver at the beginning, and (a few years) later I was told that I had cirrhosis. Because I also didn’t understand what “cirrhosis” is, Dr. Liao Tsz-liang explained that my liver had partly fibrosis, which means that my liver has fibrosis. Functionality will deteriorate.”
Ken revealed that at that time, Dr. Liao pointed out that the virus load in his liver was very high, which could be counted in millions, and it was recommended to receive suppressive treatment as soon as possible. He then went to a public hospital to receive a course of “hepatitis B inhibitors”, that is, oral antiviral drugs for hepatitis B. The initial effect of the drugs was remarkable. He revealed that the amount of virus dropped from over one million to an undetectable amount after the trial.
Learned that cirrhosis of the liver eventually turned into liver cancer
Ken said that he was scared when he learned that he had liver cirrhosis, especially when the doctor further pointed out that there was a chance of developing liver cancer, because cancer was almost terminally ill at that time, and there was no treatment. He revealed that in retrospect, he felt that perhaps because he felt young, he did not pay more attention to his living habits; although he did not have the habit of smoking and drinking, but because of his work relationship, he often stayed up late, had irregular work and rest schedules, and lacked dietary taboos, so to some extent he could say that It is “self-inflicted”.
After being referred to a public hospital for treatment, the hospital asked him to go to the hospital for blood tests every 3 months and to have an ultrasound scan every 6 to 12 months. The hospital also reminded him that he had to change his living habits. Later, because of his younger brother’s liver cancer, Ken finally realized the seriousness of the liver problem. For the sake of his health, he decided to follow the hospital’s requirements to go to the hospital for an examination. He no longer stayed up all night, and his diet immediately became light and nutritious. Ken says:
“Later, my younger brother was diagnosed with liver cancer. He received treatment later than I did. Afterwards, 60% to 70% of the liver had to be removed in surgery. I started to fear. Because we are brothers, firstly, we have similar genes, and secondly, I have liver cirrhosis. Only then did I know how to worry about myself because of the risk of developing liver cancer. Unfortunately, it was too late, and I was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2013.”
He revealed that he is actually very worried every time he checks, because he does not know which time he will detect potassium protein or the liver cancer index will soar, indicating that he is indeed suffering from liver cancer. After he was diagnosed with liver cancer, Ken immediately underwent the first abdominal surgery. Because he had liver cirrhosis, he was not suitable for resection. The doctor turned to ablation to remove the cancer cells. After the operation, the cancer cells had been completely eradicated, and they were ready to usher in a long recovery period. Unfortunately, by God’s will, they relapsed again a year later.
Liver Cancer Repeatedly Recurred, Doctor Suggested Liver Replacement
Ken said that when he was recovering in 2014, he had been living and eating according to the hospital’s instructions, and had regular checkups, but who did not know that there was a sign of an increase in the potassium protein value (from single digits to 28) , which means the sudden recurrence of liver cancer. Dr. Liao Ziliang then performed abdominal surgery on him, also using ablation to remove the cancer cells, but immediately after the operation, he found that the potassium protein value continued to rise, and it rose to more than 30 after the operation. The situation was strange.
The doctor advised him to undergo a computerized scan (CT Scan), but no problem with the liver could be detected from all angles. Finally, he underwent a PET Scan in September of the same year, and finally found an unusual location in the liver, but it was still not visible The problem is that even doctors cannot tell whether it is cancerous or not. However, the results of the data showed that the activity of the cells was abnormal. The doctor suspected that the cancer cells had recurred for the third time, and at the same time suggested that Ken undergo transarterial chemoembolization (TACE, commonly known as “Big Spleen Acupuncture”). However, after receiving Daspleen Acupuncture, the value remained unchanged. The doctor could only continue to observe Ken’s condition and schedule another CT scan.
Until February 23, 2015, Ken was finally able to take another computer scan; this scan finally found that there were two tumors about 3 cm in his liver, which was the reason why the cancer cells kept recurring. The doctor judged it to be multiple liver cancer. Generally, the cells in the hardened part of the liver will mutate into cancer cells. Ken recalled:
“At that time, the doctor advised me not to have another operation, but to be referred to Queen Mary Hospital for a liver transplant. Maybe I can get away with it once and for all.”
Ken admitted that he was worried about liver transplantation because he had no idea about “organ transplantation”, and he still had a glimmer of hope that the tumor could be removed through general surgery and cancer treatment. But after thinking about it for a while, he decided to schedule a liver transplant.
Part of the living liver was donated by the eldest daughter
Ken recalled that he was surprised and apprehensive when he heard the doctor suggested liver transplantation, but then he considered that he had undergone two surgeries and multiple cancer treatments still could not eradicate the cancer cells. Stopping the ups and downs, and knowing that maybe this is a one-and-done solution, I finally decided to be referred to Queen Mary Hospital and scheduled for a liver transplant. He continued that he went to Queen Mary Hospital to seek medical treatment from Professor Chen Shizheng in May 2015. After Dr. Chen arranged for him to undergo positron emission tomography scanning, he observed various data and his medical records, and believed that he needed liver transplantation; but because he was not in the terminal stage The patient’s physical condition is fairly good, and he does not fit into the waiting list for cadaveric liver transplantation, so the doctor advised him to accept “living donor” for liver transplantation.
“At that time, the doctor asked me: “Do you have any family members? We have a program called living donation, where family members donate part of their livers.” After hearing that, I actually felt more relaxed, because at least there is still a chance to recover.”
One month later, Ken received a liver transplant, and his eldest daughter donated 60% of the liver and bile ducts for living liver transplantation. He revealed that the whole family was willing to donate, but after evaluation, it was found that only the eldest daughter was born with a psychological condition suitable for donation. After the transplant, Ken had to undergo cholangioscopy to clear the bile duct (ERCP) because the bile ducts of his elder daughter were too small and the bile could not flow smoothly. He kept going in and out of the hospital, and was unable to receive rehabilitation treatment after organ transplantation. But the bad news came one after another. In September 2016, Ken was infected with a virus and had a high fever of 40 degrees for 4 days. The situation became dangerous. Then the hospital arranged for him to undergo “endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography” (ERCP) , was handled by surgeons Professor Chen Zhiren and Dr. Zhu Zhaohao; however, 2 ERCPs within 2 weeks were unsuccessful. Finally, the hospital suggested that Ken undergo abdominal surgery to partially remove the occluded bile duct.
Ken revealed that this is the fourth abdominal operation. He thought that after the transplant operation, he would be able to do it once and for all, but after that, it can be said to be “a lot of disasters” because his bile ducts were still not smooth during the recovery period, and even gallstones appeared. Repeatedly in and out of the hospital for various treatments. Fortunately, he finally fully recovered in April 2019. His liver was in good condition, no cancer cells appeared, and his bile ducts were no longer blocked.
After recovering, Ken became the chairman of the Heep Hong Society for Liver Transplantation, hoping to use his own experience to encourage fellow travelers. He hopes that all cancer patients and organ transplant candidates will not give up hope, because there are family members, residents, and volunteers who care about them, and they will recover one day. On the day of the interview, Ken revealed that his eldest daughter was about to get married. He was very grateful to his eldest daughter for donating part of his liver without hesitation. He was also very grateful that the family had endured great pressure for many years and still helped him in various ways without giving up on him.
“First of all, of course I am very grateful to her (eldest daughter), because she enabled me to continue my life. In fact, I was very surprised and grateful when I heard her suddenly express her willingness to donate in the car that day, because I never asked them to definitely To donate a liver to me, I am really touched by her gesture. This liver transplant surgery has also brought our family closer, which is a milestone for everyone.”
The second Saturday in November every year is “Organ Donation Day”
In order to promote organ donation and establish a positive culture of accepting organ donation in Hong Kong, the government has designated the second Saturday in November every year as Organ Donation Day and the anniversary of the establishment of the Central Organ Donation Register since 2016. In response to the government’s call, the Cancer Information Network Charitable Foundation, together with the Heep Hong Society for Liver Transplantation, Youth Convergence, and Legislative Councilor Lam Che-hsuan’s Causeway Bay Office, will set up a street station in Causeway Bay to promote important information on organ donation from November 11 to 12 this year.
At the same time, on November 12, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the 2022 Organ Donation Day Lecture will be held at the Kwun Tong Cancer Information Network Charity Foundation “Medical‧Ask Community Support Center”, and there will be a live webcast. Interested parties are welcome Call 3598 2157 for more information.
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Written by: Guo Zifeng