Mum with terminal cancer cured thanks to miracle liver transplant trial
A mum who told her doctor she was going to be a "medical miracle" is now cancer-free after becoming only the second person to have a liver transplant to treat advanced bowel cancer.
Vicki Steyert, from Wigan, was diagnosed with the incurable cancer just weeks after giving birth to her second child.
She was told treatment would only extend her life, rather than save it, but during her chemotherapy Vicki was given the news she would be eligible for a new clinical trial that could potentially cure her.
'I was only 33 and a mum to a newborn and a four-year-old, so even though I had suspected that something was wrong, to be given that news was devastating,' she said.
After two transplants she finally received the news she was waiting for, and now in remission says she is looking forward to the future.
"Two people had to lose their lives to save me this time. Although a lot of people do sign up for it, there is a huge shortage," she added.
"The transplant meant my original prognosis was out the window. We're reaching milestones that I wasn't sure I was ever going to reach at the time.
"So four years ago I wondered whether I'd see Charlie start school. And he starts Reception this September.
"Now I am cancer free, I can make plans a bit further into the future. Our next hope at the moment is that we want to buy a campervan and have some adventures as a family together."
Vicki first discovered her cancer when she noticed her bowel habits had changed and there was blood in her poo. She had blood and stool samples taken, which didn't show anything was wrong.She was also experiencing frequent urinary tract infections, which continued after giving birth to Charlie, who is now three.
She had a scan of her bladder in May 2021, and the radiographer spotted some abnormalities on her liver by chance.
She said: "It was awful, Alex was four at the time and Charlie was six weeks old. The GP rang and said: 'We've got you an appointment for Monday morning and we need to talk about your scan results'.
"There was never any hope that it would cure what I had, it was just a case of palliative chemotherapy for as long as it would work.
"I actually joked with my oncologist the first time I met her and said: 'Don't worry, I'll be a medical miracle and you'll see me on Granada Reports one day."
Vicki added: "The cancer had been there throughout my pregnancy. It's a miracle I had no complications and a healthy baby."
Following her diagnosis, Vicki was referred to The Christie's local treatment centre in Wigan and was told that, because of the spread of the cancer, her treatment would be palliative.
But, during her chemotherapy and other treatments, liver transplant trials were introduced for certain patients with bowel cancer, and Vicki was eligible to have the operation.
She added: " The Christie came back and said potential for a liver transplant is going to come to the NHS in the next couple of years. They said if you stay as you are, you would be an ideal candidate."
Vicki's consultant oncologist at The Christie Dr Kalena Marti said: "I remember the first time that I met Vicki and we had the conversation about the disease not being operable.
"When she started her journey, I don't think either Vicki or I would have thought that this would be where she is now and I'm delighted that she's doing so well."
Vicki had her liver transplant at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, but it did not come without complications.
Her first transplant failed and she had to have an emergency transplant three days later.
Dr Kalena said: "I think this demonstrates that it can be very straight forward in terms of recovery but sometimes patients will face complications and obviously it's not a risk-free procedure."
Vicki's procedure makes her only the second person to have the liver transplant as cancer treatment - after a woman from Manchester became the first.
Bianca Perea, a trainee lawyer from Manchester, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in November 2021, which had spread to eight segments of her liver and left her with limited treatment options.
But after also having the liver transplant at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, she now shows no signs of cancer.
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