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reduced capacity. That change would signal the liver that something was wrong and prompt the healthy side of Bryant's liver to grow. After giving the liver time to regenerate, Dr. Sokolich could then go in and remove the cancerous liver tissue. If all went well, the healthy remnant would continue to grow until it was nearly the size of Bryant's original liver and function normally. ALL ON THE TABLE At 55, Bryant has faced cancer before; she was treated for colon cancer a few years ago, only to have the cancer spread to her liver. But nothing she had experienced during her health challenges prepared her for Dr. Sokolich's plan. Bryant didn't hesitate to choose the surgery. She figured it was her only shot. "If I'm going to go out, I'm going to go out," she says. Still, she asked Dr. Sokolich to pray with her. Only 16 percent of Bryant's liver was healthy when Dr. Davis blocked the vein. That's not enough liver to keep the body functioning, and the reason Dr. Sokolich couldn't operate immediately. All that he could do was wait. In rare cases, the liver fails to regenerate. Or, the cancer cells spread to the healthy part of the liver, making the surgery impossible. Several weeks later, a CAT scan showed the healthy portion of her liver had grown from 16-percent to over 28 percent of normal size. That was all Dr. Sokolich needed. GROWING STRONGER After the procedure, Bryant's family focused on helping her recover. Her grandkids came to visit and helped her get up and walk around the halls. Once she returned home, the healthy remnant of her liver would continue to grow for several weeks. Her grandchildren didn't realize just how serious Bryant's situation had been. "I just knew my grandma was going to be okay," says Halley Derico, 17. "I never thought of it as tragic, like she might die." Halley and her older sister, Speshal, 18, are both seniors. They were counting on their grandmother to watch them graduate. Bryant was counting on being there, too. She needed to advise them on choosing colleges and maybe to spoil them, just a little bit. A few weeks after the surgery, Bryant felt well enough to plan a shopping expedition. She would take Halley to buy a prom dress and a class ring. WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CURTISTINE BRYANT'S STORY AND THE PROCEDURE THAT SAVED HER LIFE? READ THE WHOLE STORY AT 4HEALTHIER.ME/TGH-LIVER. Know Your Risk Factors Liver cancer can be tough to spot if it hasn't advanced. The good news, according to the American Cancer Society, is that you can lower your risk by preventing a major cause of liver cancer: cirrhosis. This scarring of the tissue in the liver contributes to almost 70 percent of liver cancer cases. Use these tips to lower your risk. Avoid alcohol abuse. The American Liver Foundation estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis. Exercise and eat healthy. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a result of obesity, can also cause cirrhosis. Don't smoke, and quit if you do. Tobacco use increases your risk for multiple types of cancer, including liver cancer. Even if you've been smoking for years, quitting now will lower your risk. 13 summer 2017 / tgh.org