Keith Zafren, a 63-year-old from Lexington, Ky., who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, is now cancer-free after undergoing a groundbreaking double-lung transplant at Northwestern Medicine. The surgery, part of the Double Lung Replacement and Multidisciplinary Care (DREAM) program, used innovative techniques to make donor lungs viable for transplant in a patient with rapidly progressing stage 4 lung cancer.
Dr. Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic surgery at the Canning Thoracic Institute, expressed, “Keith’s transplant demonstrates how far we can push our technologies to help patients, including some patients with terminal lung cancer whose disease is rapidly progressing.”
Keith Zafren's journey began in 2017 when he was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Despite conventional treatments failing, he remained hopeful, exploring new medications and treatments. After learning about Northwestern Medicine's pioneering lung transplant program, he reached out and eventually became a candidate for the DREAM program.
Reflecting on his transformative experience, Zafren shared, “Thanks to the incredible care I received at Northwestern Medicine, I feel better than I have in six years since my lung cancer diagnosis."
The success of Zafren's surgery highlights the impact of innovative medical approaches in providing hope for patients with otherwise limited options. Northwestern Medicine's DREAM program continues to offer new possibilities for patients facing terminal lung cancer, showcasing the power of cutting-edge medical interventions in the face of challenging diagnoses.
