90 kilograms of tumor should be removed

Operation planned to remove a 90 kilogram tumor

24/08/2011

For thirty years, a tumor has been growing on the leg of Vietnamese Duy Hai. With the help of American doctors, the tumor, now weighing around 90 kilograms, is to be removed in November.

The 31-year-old Vietnamese has almost suffered his entire life from the daily growing ulcer on his right leg. According to the doctors, the size of the tumor grew by about ten centimeters in the past month alone. After Vietnamese experts did not find a way to remove the tumor last month, American specialists have been asked for help, said Ho Ho Minh, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Cancer Hospital. In November, the US doctors want to travel to Vietnam to remove the giant tumor in an operation lasting up to 14 hours.

Significant health burden on the patient
For the young Vietnamese brings the 90 kilogram tumor on his leg significant health problems. The otherwise rather thin Duy Hai had already suffered damage to the hip and spine due to the additional load and also suffered from shortness of breath, explained the director of the cancer clinic, Le Hoang Minh. According to the doctors, Duy Hai torments the largest tumor ever discovered in Vietnam. It was not possible for the Vietnamese doctors to remove the ulcer last month because the tumor was nourished by important blood vessels and the risk of the intervention therefore did not appear to be responsible, said the Director of the Cancer Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. The physicians have therefore asked American experts for assistance with the procedure. This will take place with the help of the US doctors in November, expected in the course of an eight- to 14-hour operation, the previously supposedly more than 90 kilograms heavy tumor should be removed.

For the 31-year-old Duy Hai, a lifelong tale of suffering could come to an end. However, stay until November „a long wait for the operation“ and he wishes, „the foreign doctors could come earlier to help“, Duy Hai explained. Twenty-four years ago, Vietnamese doctors had already attempted to stop the growth of the tumor by amputation on the knee - without success. Further interventions were previously out of the question for the young Vietnamese, since his family lives in poverty and does not have the necessary financial means. Also for the present intervention the Duy Hai would not have enough money, especially since the experts from America have to be flown in. But the hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has agreed to pay the costs.

In recent years, the removal of incredibly large tumors has been repeatedly reported, among other things, in 2007, a man in China, a 15 kilogram of ulcer from the face and in 2009 a woman from Saudi Arabia, an 18 kilogram tumor was removed from the pelvic area , Those affected usually come from countries with relatively poor medical care, since often there is no timely treatment of the disease and then the tumors reach a size at which the surgical removal represents a significant health risk. In addition, the less well-trained on-site medical staff is often unable to perform such intricate procedures. (Fp)