Organ failure is when a major organ stops working. Major organs all have important jobs to keep the body alive. Each organ counts on the other ones to keep the body working. Advanced illness such as cancer can damage organ tissues and this damage can lead to organ failure.
Major organs that can fail include the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and intestines (gut). If one of these organs stops working, the patient will not be able to survive without the help of very strong medicines and/or machines.
