An operation to remove a 30-kilogram tumor and the first endoscopic procedure to remove a breast tumor. Both were very complicated, but both patients were happy and recovering. They are walking proof that prevention is the key to health. They had regular check-ups and this protected them from developing the disease. The first patient had a benign but very large change, the second – a malignant tumor, but detected at a very early stage. Both women have little chance of a full recovery.
139 stitches on the abdomen are just a memento of the removal of an ovarian tumor. in Mrs. Anna – I must admit that this is the first such – I wanted to say large – but huge tumor that I have ever seen in a patient – says Professor Maciej W. Socha, head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of St. Wojciech Hospital in Gdańsk.
The tumor was almost 80 centimeters. It reached from the pubic symphysis to the chest. The patient had problems breathing, walking and everyday functioning. – It was a nightmare. It was such exertional dyspnea that I couldn't cope anymore – says Mrs. Anna, the patient.
Importantly, the woman had regular check-ups. She was first diagnosed in February. Since then, she has been waiting for more tests and visits. “Here, you wait two weeks, there, you wait two months, then two months again, and each time, my belly grew at a record pace,” says Mrs. Anna.
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Finally, the patient was referred to Professor Socha. The tumor had grown to enormous size by that time. For the team of doctors from St. Wojciech Hospital in Gdańsk, the procedure proved to be an equally huge challenge. – The solutions were, I admit honestly, non-standard, but adequate to the situation – comments doctor Karol Szleper-Fadrowski, an intern at St. Wojciech Hospital in Gdańsk.
Ms. Anna's tumor removal procedureSt. Wojciech Hospital in Gdańsk
After excising the lesion, the doctors had to place the tumor on a special trolley, because lifting 30 kilograms was not easy. – It is a difficult procedure logistically, technically and finally unusual, because I will repeat once again: as far as I know, there has never been a larger tumor in Poland – informs Maciej W. Socha.
The patient feels great today and is slowly recovering. The tumor turned out to be benign. “She can't believe she suddenly has a flat stomach,” says Maciej Socha.
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First endoscopic breast tumor removal procedure
Mrs. Anna Witczak from Łódź also found out how important preventive tests are. – I had a mammogram in April and the changes were revealed during that mammogram – the patient recalls.
A woman at the Institute of Mother's Health Center Polk underwent a procedure to remove a malignant breast tumor last week. – To my knowledge, this is the first endoscopic tumor removal and, in fact, breast-conserving surgery in a breast cancer patient using an endoscope, which is a minimally invasive technique – says Professor Piotr Pluta from the Department of Oncological Surgery and Breast Diseases at the Institute of Mother's Health Center Polk.
Endoscopic surgeries are becoming more and more common, although not always possible. Ms. Anna's procedure lasted several hours and was very complicated. The tumor was fortunately removed in its entirety, and the technique used gives Ms. Anna not only a chance to preserve her femininity, but also a faster recovery. However, the key here was the tests and quick treatment.
– Thanks to the fact that I undergo preventive examinations every year, this change was detected at an early stage and this, above all, gives me hope – says Ms. Anna Witczak.
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Breast cancer rates have doubled over the past 20 years
Every year in Poland, over 25 thousand women fall ill with breast cancer. Almost one third are diagnosed too late. Over the last 20 years, the number of cases of breast cancer has almost doubled. Specialists and others emphasize the importance of prevention.
– It gives a chance of a hundred percent cure and I hope that it will be the same in my case – says Mrs. Anna Witczak. – Controls, controls and more controls – emphasizes Mrs. Anna.
Cytology and mammography – mandatory once a year. In addition, self-examination at least once a month, every woman should remember this. Especially if there was a history of cancer in the family, this should be a red flag.
– The nature of the tumours is different in younger women, and it will be different in women around 40, different in women 50 and still different in women 60. However, when it comes to preventive examinations, every patient, regardless of age, should be encouraged in the same way – emphasises Dr Tomasz Fuchs, head of the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at the University Hospital in Wrocław.
Main image source: St. Wojciech Hospital in Gdańsk