4 get cancer from teen's donated organs

[Mugu]

By FRANK ELTMAN, Associated Press via Yahoo

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Alex Koehne had a love for life, and always wanted to help people.

So when his parents were told that their 15-year-old son was dying of bacterial meningitis, the couple didn't hesitate in donating his organs to desperately ill transplant recipients.

"I immediately said, `Let's do it'," Jim Koehne recalled. "We both thought it was a great idea. This is who Alex was." A year later, their dream that Alex's spirit might somehow live on has become a nightmare.

It turned out that Alex did not die of bacterial meningitis, but rather a rare form of lymphoma that wasn't found until his autopsy, and apparently spread to the organ recipients. The Long Island couple was told that two of the recipients have died, and two others had the donor kidneys removed and are getting cancer treatment.


Complete article at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080407/ap_on_he_me/transplant_death_1

[mac2]

1. Just shows how screwed up our medical system is

Who ever that doctor was he should lose his license.

[cynatnite]

6. More information...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23866961/

Cancer being passed through transplanted organs is rare - it happens only a handful of times each year. The state Department of Health recently concluded an investigation at Stony Brook and at New York University Medical Center, which received two of the organs, and cleared both hospitals. "We did not find flaws in policies, procedures and actions at Stony Brook concerning the case of the 15-year-old boy with transplanted organs," said Health Department spokeswoman Claudia Hutton. However, NYU and the University of Minnesota, which also transplanted one of the diseased organs, have since changed their policies and now require stronger proof of bacterial meningitis.

As experts consider the case that has rocked five families, four of whom believed they had been given another chance at health and life, they say it highlights the difficulties inherent in transplantations. The specialized medical teams involved must race the clock to assess the suitability of organs for transplants. Speed is even more critical given the growing waiting list for organs. And transplantation, though now commonplace, remains an evolving science.

[MadMaddie]

2. How the hell did they not catch this? This is absurd.

[cynatnite]

5. Because transplanting organs is complicated and still very imperfect...

Cancer being passed through transplanted organs is rare - it happens only a handful of times each year. The state Department of Health recently concluded an investigation at Stony Brook and at New York University Medical Center, which received two of the organs, and cleared both hospitals. "We did not find flaws in policies, procedures and actions at Stony Brook concerning the case of the 15-year-old boy with transplanted organs," said Health Department spokeswoman Claudia Hutton. However, NYU and the University of Minnesota, which also transplanted one of the diseased organs, have since changed their policies and now require stronger proof of bacterial meningitis.

As experts consider the case that has rocked five families, four of whom believed they had been given another chance at health and life, they say it highlights the difficulties inherent in transplantations. The specialized medical teams involved must race the clock to assess the suitability of organs for transplants. Speed is even more critical given the growing waiting list for organs. And transplantation, though now commonplace, remains an evolving science.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23866961/

[MadMaddie]

8. It's the misdiagnosis that I wonder about......

they took blood tests probably how do they get bacterial meningitis and not cancer?

[whistle]

3. What an amazing medical blunder!!!! But wait, that means that cancer

...is spread through the lymph fluid and white blood cells of the body, That might present a breakthrough as to how cancers are spread

<snip>

What Is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system carries lymph fluid and white blood cells throughout body. The purpose of the lymphatic system is to fight infections.

Like all cancers, lymphoma happens when the body's cells grow out of control, often causing tumors to grow. Most lymphomas are made up of white blood cells called either T cells or B cells.

Lymphoma cells are sometimes found in the blood, but tend to form solid tumors in the lymph system or in organs. These tumors can often be felt as a painless lump or swollen gland almost anywhere in the body

http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/lymphoma/NHL_whatis.html

[cynatnite]

7. It's actually very rare...

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Cancer_Spread_By_Transplantation_Extremely_Rare.asp

[parasim]

4. What a sad, sad story...

Hopefully the lesson - that autopsies should be performed before organs are released for transplants - is heeded in the future.

[napi21]

9. I don't think this is terribly rare. My cousin had a pancreas transplant

5 years ago, and 2 years after his surgery he was diagnosed with throat cancer. It's a very difficult thing to treat because the imunosupressants they give all transplant patients to stop the rejection of the new organ also helps promote the growth of the cancer. In my cousin's case it seems to have worked OK so far. He is currently in remission.

[jeanruss]

10. cancer an infectious diseaes?

Researchers dating back to the 1800's have shown that cancer is caused by bacteria, viruses and lethal fungi. Dr. Virginia Livingston proved many times that this was so. She operated an immunotherapy clinic for over 30 years in San Diego and cured many people. However, the FDA forbade her to advertise the great work she was doing, just as they have threatened and ruined other doctors who tried to make cancxer breakthroughs. She was left alone because she was a good friend of Ronald Reagan. When are we going to rein in these forces that will not allow a breakthrough in this disease?