Groundbreaking Lung Transplant Offers new Hope for Advanced Cancer Patients
Successful double-lung transplant in German woman shows no signs of cancer post-surgery
Cornelia Tischmacher, an art dealer and historian, has an incredible second chance at life after undergoing an innovative double-lung transplant. This unique approach has provided a beacon of hope for late-stage cancer patients with limited options.
Based in Berlin, Tischmacher, then 40 years old, was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer in early 2018, just eight months after giving birth to twins. Despite leading a healthy lifestyle and not smoking, she underwent surgery and chemotherapy. However, the cancer returned the following year, and her lungs started to fail by June 2024, requiring an oxygen tank for her to breathe.
Desperate for options, Tischmacher discovered an unparalleled clinical trial in the United States for patients like her. "If this is the only option in the world," she thought, "of course I want to try it." Her decision came with a dash of uncertainty, as she knew the outcome could be uncertain.
The renowned DREAM (Double Lung Transplant Registry Aimed for Lung-Limited Malignancies) programme at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago had pioneered a new method for double-lung transplants for patients with lung-limited advanced cancers. The Northwestern surgical team suspected that the traditional method, which involved transplanting lungs one at a time, could potentially allow cancer to spread between the older lung and the new one.
Their solution was drastic yet effective: simultaneously removing both cancerous lungs, meticulously cleaning the airways and chest cavity, before implanting the fresh lungs. This approach aimed to eliminate any chance of cancer cells spreading during the operation.
In December 2024, Tischmacher successfully underwent the surgery. Upon waking up, she could breathe freely without her oxygen tank.
Nearly five months later, her health continues to improve, and there is no sign of cancer. "I would have died without this procedure," she affirmed. The surgery has become an example of a potentially more common approach for certain individuals with limited lung cancer stage who possess sturdy hearts and kidneys and have exhausted all other treatment options.
Approximately 70 patients have undergone this surgery since the DREAM program's inception three years ago. Only five have seen their cancers return, but in those cases, doctors were able to halt the disease's progression and extend their lives.
"I'm the first patient from Germany to receive a lung transplant at Northwestern Medicine," said Tischmacher, "but other patients have traveled from elsewhere in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Canada."
Lung transplants are relatively uncommon, with fewer than 8,000 procedures accomplished worldwide in 2023. In Germany, restricted donor supplies and stringent patient prioritization make lung transplants difficult to access.
Tischmacher will remain in the U.S. for a year before returning to Germany to be closer to her family. The joy on her twins' faces in April while visiting Chicago, after witnessing their mother enjoy museums, aquariums, and mini-golf without an oxygen tank, was a reminder of the life she has saved.
- lung cancer treatment
- Cancer
- Medical research
- Transplantation
- cancer survivor
- healthcare
- improved quality of life
- Cornelia Tischmacher, now a cancer survivor, is grateful for the innovative double-lung transplant that provided improved quality of life, offering a beacon of hope for advanced lung cancer patients.
- Medical research, such as the DREAM program and its pioneering transplantation approach, continues to prioritize healthcare solutions for individuals with limited options for treating lung cancer.
- Tischmacher's successful lung transplant has become an example of potential treatment for certain lung cancer stages, allowing cancer patients to try a new method that prioritizes their health and wellness.
- Lung cancer treatment and related medical research, like the double-lung transplant, can redefine the lives of those diagnosed with the disease, offering a second chance at life and a renewed sense of joy, as Tischmacher has experienced.
