CHAPTER 37

Original: 2011-11-7

Reposted: 2025-4-9

Around the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2011, the gastroenterologist who treated my liver disease decided to refer me to the Solid Organ Transplant Clinic. I couldn't digest this news for a while.

Since the liver cancer tumor was removed at the end of September 2005, I have been doing CT scans every three months and then seeing the surgeon for follow-up consultations. If the condition stabilizes, I can change to follow-up visits every six months after two years. Unexpectedly, during a follow-up visit in December 2007, I was informed that my liver cancer had recurred. I was immediately referred to the BC Cancer Society, where a liver cancer specialist provided me with anti-cancer treatment. I underwent one ablation therapy and seven chemotherapy sessions.

My gastroenterologist, surgeon, and liver cancer doctor attend the same meeting every month to discuss the condition and treatment options of liver patients with other doctors.

I went to see the gastroenterologist as usual every three months. That day he told me that my hepatitis B virus was under full control, all liver function indexes had returned to normal, and the virus count was less than 30 per unit, which was technically undetectable. The number of viruses per unit in patients with severe hepatitis is calculated in hundred millions. This is good news, but there is also bad news.

Since undergoing chemotherapy for liver cancer at the end of last year, new tumors have been discovered. I rexalled my recent meetings with various specialists, and they all expressed doubts and were unable to determine whether the new tumor was cancerous. In addition, there are unusual and strange shapes of blood vessel hyperplasia, which doctors do not like to encounter because they increase the difficulty of treatment.

The medical team believes that the frequent occurrence of tumors means that the cancer cells are becoming more aggressive and will eventually become incurable. The only way to cure liver cancer is to transplant the liver as soon as possible. He asked about my blood type and told me it was rare.

Hepatitis B can be cured, but liver cancer cannot be cured. It is impossible to live to be a hundred years old and accompany Lun and my family relying on this liver. Without transplant, my future will be worrisome. But a liver transplant is a major operation. Can I get through it? The doctor saw that I was troubled and comforted me, saying that the matter was important but not urgent. I should do a physical and mental assessment first and there was no need to replace it immediately. I told the doctor that I would travel to the mainland in two weeks and meet the transplant team when I came back, and the doctor nodded.

After the follow-up consultation, I picked up my wife from work and told her the doctor's opinion. She asked a few simple questions. In fact, we both understood the doctor's intention. My condition was very serious. If I wanted to survive, a liver transplant was necessary.

We went home and searched for relevant information online. The operation would take eight hours and I would be in the intensive care unit. The nurses would provide one-on-one care 24 hours a day, and there would be close follow-up for six months after the operation. The first three months of recovery were the most critical. Lifelong anti-rejection medication is fully subsidized by the government. While waiting for an organ transplant, I cannot travel far and must arrive at Vancouver General Hospital within two hours.

Thinking of this, I am glad that I have traveled to some famous cities and ports in Europe, America and Eastern Canada with my wife and younger don in the past few years. After I visit China to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, I can come back and wait for the liver transplant with peace of mind.