Histotripsy Breakthrough: Non-Invasive Cure for Liver Cancer

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, an 80-year-old man with liver cancer has become the first person in Europe to undergo a pioneering new treatment called histotripsy. The non-invasive procedure, which uses focused ultrasound waves to destroy tumors without surgery, radiation, or drugs, has given the patient a new lease on life.

Roger Jackson, a retired sales manager from Bedford, was diagnosed with liver cancer in July 2025 after a routine scan detected an abnormality. Facing the prospect of grueling surgery or chemotherapy, Jackson instead opted for the histotripsy treatment, which was recently made available at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

The 20-minute procedure, performed under general anesthesia, involved directing high-intensity ultrasound waves at the 2cm tumor in Jackson's liver. This caused microscopic bubbles to form and collapse, effectively "exploding" the cancer cells while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue unharmed. In the weeks following the treatment, the destroyed tumor was absorbed into Jackson's body, leaving only a small scar on his liver.

"I had no symptoms or discomfort beforehand and none afterwards, so in many ways it felt as if nothing had happened," Jackson said. "I'm so grateful I could have it - I was luckily in the right place at the right time."

With the rise in liver cancer deaths in the UK, this breakthrough treatment offers new hope for patients. Experts believe histotripsy could revolutionize the way liver cancer is treated, reducing the risks and recovery time associated with traditional surgical and ablation methods.