04/28/2026
John was told he was out of options, but he refused to give up.
After seeing local providers in Saint Croix, Virgin Islands, and specialists in Miami, John was diagnosed with a Klatskin tumor that had spread extensively. The recommendation was to stay on chemotherapy and begin getting his affairs in order.
Unwilling to accept that as the end of his story, John was willing to go anywhere and try anything.
After meeting with Dr. Martin Dib, John learned something no one else had told him before: he still had an option. He was a candidate for a complex liver resection to remove the tumor, marking the first time this treatment would be performed in Boston.
Klatskin tumors are among the most complex and aggressive tumors involving the liver. Using a combination of advanced surgical oncology and transplant techniques, the BIDMC team successfully performed a resection that others believed could not be done.
What once felt like the end became the hope John never gave up on.
Following a 16-hour robotic surgery that removed a portion of his liver, the Klatskin tumor was successfully removed, and today, John remains cancer-free.
While up to 50% of Klatskin tumor resections can result in positive margins, John’s surgery achieved negative margins, a critical milestone in cancer surgery.
His journey is proof that distance does not have to be a barrier to life-saving care. Through coordinated care, trusted relationships, and open communication between providers across regions, lives can be saved from anywhere.
