Doctors at Seoul National University Hospital successfully transplanted a lung on a stage-4 lung cancer patient last year for the first time in Korea.

According to Prof. Kang Chang-hyun of the cardiothoracic department, a 58-year-old patient was diagnosed with stage-1 lung cancer in 2006 and had her left lower lobe removed.

Then in 2007, the disease relapsed, spread to both lungs and the cancer developed into stage-4. She had undergone chemotherapy until 2008 but not much progress had been made.

Then, last July, she had both of her lungs replaced. She has reported no side effects or complications thus far.

“This is a very rare case of successful lung transplantation since the patient wasn’t responding to the chemotherapy. She is now well and living her life without particular difficulties,” Kang said in a press release.

(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)