A man with a rare type of cancer called pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) which can surround the organs in the abdomen has survived thanks to a breakthrough multi- organ transplant procedure.
A doctor from the U.K. removed and replaced all of Andy Voge's organs in a first-of-its-kind operation in the U.S.
Voge and his wife, Rachel, noticed a bulge on Voge's stomach in January. Andy Voge told Kate Snow that he didn't think anything of it.
He went to his doctor to make sure it wasn't a problem. Voge said that the doctor said there was no need for anything to be done about it. His bile duct levels were off.
Voge said that the next day they found a mass in his body. He had cancer of his appendix, which was discovered the next day. He was diagnosed with a rare form of appendix cancer after going to the doctor for his belly button.
The couple was completely shocked. We were eating well before I went for a run. Voge said that everything was fine.
There is a build up of mucus-secreting tumor cells in the abdominal cavity. The amount of mucus that is produced can't be controlled. The substance can eventually smother the rest of the organs. It can cause patients to be unable to eat or drink due to obstruction.
This type of cancer can go undetected for a long time because of it's slow-growing nature. Patients may be symptom free for a long time. Two to four cases per one million people is how rare it is.
Voge felt very lucky to have a diagnosis in four days after he was diagnosed with the disease. After a week of treatment, he was told his cancer wouldn't respond to typical Chemo.
In order to remove as much of the Tumor and mucus as possible, a combination of surgery and heated Chemo is usually used. The removal of the hardened mucus can relieve pressure on other organs.
Voge's first surgery took out three liters of mucin. His appendix and gallbladder were removed during the surgery. Voge's surgery went well and he was back to his usual routine in six weeks. He said that the path after the surgery is monitored.
After Voge's first surgery, a couple bought a trailer and went to state parks in Minnesota. The six-month follow-up seemed to go well. Voge said there was no sign of new tumors. The couple sold their house in Minnesota because they wanted to travel full time. Everything fell apart again after that.
Voge's doctors told him in February 2020 that the majority of what they had removed had grown back. It was going to come back. We were aware that we would have to deal with it again. Voge said that it happened so fast that they didn't think it would happen so quickly.
The appointment was a turning point in the relationship.
We have limited time, so let's take advantage of it. They were on the road by March after buying a new fifth wheel R-V. They spent the next few months documenting their journey on social media. The COVID-19 Pandemic began during this time as well.
Voge's health began to decline quickly. I was getting sick every day. I couldn't keep the water down. He said that he was pretty thin and thirsty. He learned that the symptoms were caused by the cancer. They returned to Minnesota and went to the emergency room.
Voge was going to have another surgery to remove as much of the tumor and mucus as possible in order to relieve his symptoms. He said that they were under the impression that they would do another surgery and have a normal life.
Voge got sad news. It was not possible to remove his cancer. Voge was placed on a feeding tube. The couple was looking into different treatments. He said that the entire fall was spent in the ER. Andy was hospitalized at the end of January because of a hole in his colon.
He said that they wanted to operate but couldn't. I was told by my doctor that I had a 50% chance of surviving that night.
Voge called friends and family to say farewell. He couldn't have a lot of visitors because of the Pandemic. His wife slept on a cot next to him. She thought it was over.
Voge was able to survive the night, but the road ahead was not good. He said that they thought he had about six months left. Voge was sent home from the hospital on antibiotics and nutrition was administered through an IV. He said they tried to enjoy what they had.
Voge received a phone call that changed his life. After moving from the U.K. to the Cleveland Clinic, Vaidya reached out to Voge's doctor. A number of U.K.PMP patients were helped by Vaidya. It had never been done in the United States.
If patients fail conventional therapy, there is an alternative. I have a solution.
All of the abdominal organs are removed and replaced with healthy organs at the same time. Since the 1980s, this type of transplant has been done, but it is new for treating PMP.
The transplantation is only available for patients who fail the de-bulking surgery and heated chemotherapy. 85% of patients will do well after that and there will be no recurrences or small recurrences that can be taken out, that's what the conventional procedure is like.
Voge said it was a big procedure. The couple decided they wanted to keep fighting after taking a few days to think about it. Voge said, "We said we have nothing to lose."
The couple moved to Cleveland after he was approved for a transplant. Voge was on the transplant list. There was a waiting game after that. Vogue said that her biggest fear was not being able to get organs fast enough.
Voge's condition deteriorated while his medical team worked to identify an organ donor.
It was obvious that things were declining. He said that he was having a problem with hisLiver was shutting down Voge was in the hospital when they found a match. All seven organs would be donated by one person.
It took 17 hours for the surgery to finish. After removing Voge's organs, Vaidya was able to transplant the healthy organs from Voge's body.
The effort was a team effort. This type of cancer has never before been treated with a multi organ transplant in the US.
Voge was in the hospital for more than a month. His recovery went well despite a few procedures to remove excess fluid in his abdomen. His wife helped him get through it. He said thatRachel had been his rock.
Voge's first transplant evaluation was last year. He was able to eat again and went for a bike recently.
The future is uncertain because of the high recurrence rate of appendix cancer. Voge said that it was a lot better than it was.
He has a 70% chance of having his organs in 10 years.
A transplant won't be the answer for all abdominal cancer. This surgery has a good record for patients with slow-growing tumors.
Right now, it is quite early. "We need more patients and data."
Voge's story gives hope to patients and doctors. Hope is always present in different pockets of our lives. "Don't give up that hope," she said.
Voge wants other appendix cancer patients to know that this is an option.
There was always something to fight for.
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