SURGERY IS LIKE MATHEMATICS – PRECISE AND SYSTEMATIC.
CANCER TREATMENT NEEDS TO BE FOR THE PRIMARY AND ANTICIPATED SPREAD
I am thankful to the patient and her family who have consented for me to share this story.
INTRODUCTION TO LUNG CANCER:The most common types of NON SMALL CELL LUNG CANCERS are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma,.The 5-year relative survival rate from 2010 to 2016 for patients with lung cancer was 21%. THAT MEANS ONLY 21% will see 5 years.
The single most important risk factor for the development of lung cancer is smoking. For smokers, the risk of lung cancer is on average tenfold higher than in lifetime nonsmoker.In patients considered at high risk of developing lung cancer, the only screening modality for early detection that has been shown to alter mortality is low-dose helical CT scanning.
Lung cancer continues to be a life-threatening disease as the survival statistics are not very promising. Surgery is the major treatment for patients with lung cancer (or tumor) to improve their chance at life.
Mr.Tejo Rao from Nanded,Maharashtra had come to us on July 7th,2006 with complaints of persistent cough and blood in sputum. We investigated him with Bronchoscopy which showed an ulcerated growth in left MAIN BRONCHUS and close to its subdivision and CT Chest and Abdomen with contrast. The biopsy came as moderately differentiated Squamous cell carcinoma. CT scan showed a lesion in left bronchus with no metastasis elsewhere.
He and his attenders were explained high risk of surgery, the need of removal of total lung on the left side.
The Lung has a complex blood vasculature to and from the heart which need to be controlled very very carefully. The vessels,nerves and airway of Lung need to be tackled very SYSTEMATICALLY with MATHEMATICAL PRECISION. Small mistakes can be fatal.
THREE GOALS FROM CANCER TREATMENT POINT OF VIEW ARE IMPORTANT
1.COMPLETE TUMOR REMOVAL WITH NEGATIVE MARGINS
2.ANTICIPATED SITES OF SPREAD LIKE LYMPH NODES ARE REMOVED
And we removed the lymph nodes ,small glands which drain lymph from lungs. These are needed for personalising therapy based on their cancer spread.
Intraoperative or during surgery biopsy of specimen was done to know whether we have removed the cancer totally. It was not only removed totally we also ensured bronchial margin free resection
Patient was on ventilator for a day and was discharged on 8 th day
Biopsy came as moderately differentiated Squamous cell carcinoma with no nodal involvement
Later on the patient completed Radiotherapy and is on regular follow up.
After 15 years the patient came to us on June 23 ,2021 and totally disease free on CT Scan. He thanked us profusely for the surgery we performed. He said he married his children and settled them. He is settled with his family and living well. He came to us just to see us and informed me that he took two doses of Covid Vaccine. I praised him for taking vaccines and also amired his fitness and COVID care even though so many cases were there near his hometown.
We were elated and our Joy knew no bounds as we saw a Lung cancer survivor of more than 15 years when only 21% see 5 years as per NCI USA Statistics.It’s GODS cooperation,systematic surgery, personalised therapy which contributed to this success.
Mr.TEJO RAO was so happy to see us and he was filled with tears when we told him he is disease free and he is CURED. And GOD is great he didn’t get Covid too and HE IS MRUTYUNJAYUDU