The cancerous tumour 35x20x30 cms in size, was causing extreme pain and discomfort to the patient for the past 6 -7 months
In an extraordinary display of medical expertise and teamwork, Doctors from Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, successfully removed a massive 9.1 kg cancerous tumour from a 55-year-old African woman’s abdomen.
According to the doctors, the cancerous tumour 35x20x30 cms in size, was causing extreme pain and discomfort to the patient for the past 6 -7 months. Cancerous tumours - also known as malignant tumors, are abnormal masses of tissue that grow and spread uncontrollably. The team, led by Dr. Amit Javed, Director, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, removed the tumour, which they said was compressing multiple vital organs and was hanging like a football from the abdomen.
It was a high-risk surgery
According to Dr. Javed, before coming to India, the patient said she had visited several hospitals in Africa for treatment but was denied surgery due to the high risks associated with size of the tumour, its location and complexity.
However, after she was admitted in the hospital, the woman underwent extensive tests, which included CT angiography and PET scan that could reveal the presence of a huge vascular tumour inside the abdomen. Because of its size, the tumour was compressing all the important structures of the body - including the urinary pipes, kidneys and it was difficult to analyze its origin point.
However, the doctors went ahead with the surgery in a procedure that lasted for nearly three hours and remarkably the patient was discharged in just four days in a stable condition.
“The surgery was very challenging owing to the size of the tumour and also because we were not able to ascertain the origin of the tumour due to its magnitude. Post the surgery, we determined that the tumour was arising from the stomach wall - such tumours are often gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) which are rare cancers that form in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract,” Dr. Javed told the media persons.
According to Dr. Javed, if left untreated, the cancerous tumour would have caused grave, life-threatening complications to the patient’s health. “Fortunately, in this particular case, the tumour was not involving other important organs, and had it been left untreated, the patient could have had other health associated complications due to the compression of important organs. The most common complication of such tumours is bleeding, which could have been life-threatening, considering the size of this tumour,” he added.
Yash Rawat, Facility Director, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said, "This case was particularly challenging due to the tumor's extensive size and weight. Nonetheless, our team of doctors, led by Dr. Amit Javed, handled it with exceptional skill. Clinical expertise and best-in-class care to manage such cases are the hallmarks of Fortis Hospital Gurugram, and we continuously endeavor to provide highest level of care to save lives and get improved outcomes.”
What causes a cancerous tumour?
According to experts, a tumour forms when abnormal cells pile up, creating an overgrowth, or mass. Your body constantly makes new cells to replace old or damaged ones that die off. For a neoplasm to form, the cells do not die off as expected, but the cells accumulate, causing the tumour to grow.
It can affect anyone at any age, however, the specific factors that increase your chances of developing a neoplasm vary based on the type. General risk factors include:
- Gene mutations like BRCA genes
- Inherited conditions like Lynch syndrome and neurofibromatosis
- Family history of certain types of cancer-like breast and prostate cancer
- Smoking and alcohol
- Previous radiation exposure
- Viruses like HPV
- Obesity
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