A stage-4 rectal cancer patient from Iraq, 47 years old, has been given a new lease on life by Indian medical professionals following a difficult surgery.
The man was receiving treatment for piles in his home country after receiving a diagnosis of the condition. Later on, though, it was found that the initial diagnosis of his condition was incorrect—he actually had rectal cancer. Before being referred to the Manipal Hospital in Dwarka, the obese patient also underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

“This was a difficult case because the patient had received a false diagnosis in the past, and his weight of 122 kg made the treatment more complicated,” Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, a surgical oncology consultant at Manipal Hospital in Dwarka, told IANS.

Following examination, the physicians discovered stage IV rectal cancer along with peritoneal disease.

Cancer that starts in an organ inside the abdomen and spreads to the surface and lining of the abdominal wall is known as peritoneal disease. Cancers in stage IV are typically incurable. However, there is treatment for peritoneal disease.

Doctors at Manipal chose to perform the extremely difficult and complex procedures of HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Surgery) and CRS (Cytoreductive Surgery) due to the case’s complexity.

“To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, these procedures were combined with the surgical removal of the cancerous tumour and the administration of heated chemotherapy to the abdomen,” Dr. Sanjeev said.

“The patient was successfully treated under the direction of our team and returned home with a better quality of life, despite an initial unfavorable prognosis. The physician stated, “The effectiveness of his treatment emphasizes the significance of cutting-edge medical solutions to challenging issues like cancer.”