CANCER, HUNDREDS OF POLYPS AND A YOUNG AGE: THE NMRRC PERFORMS RADICAL TREATMENT IN A 29-YEAR-OLD PATIENT

Surgeons at the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute – a branch of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, performed complex surgical treatment on a young man diagnosed with rectal cancer against the background of an aggressive condition — familial adenomatous polyposis. Moreover, thanks to a high-tech procedure, the specialists managed to preserve the anal canal, thereby sparing the patient a lifelong stoma.

The reason for seeking medical help was blood in the stool. Colonoscopy revealed a malignant tumor of the rectum and hundreds of polyps.

Familial adenomatous polyposis is a genetic disorder in which hundreds and even thousands of polyps form in all parts of the colon, and those in the rectum carry an almost 100% risk of becoming malignant. As a rule, the disease manifests itself at a young age — between 25 and 40.

With such an extensive cancer and polyposis process, the only effective treatment is a total colectomy — removal of the entire colon.

«Nevertheless, in some cases we can preserve the anal canal, which improves our patients’ quality of life several times over», – says Sergey Poluektov, Head of the Abdominal Surgery Department at the P. Hertsen MORI, Candidate of Medical Sciences. «In this particular case, we preserved a small segment of the rectum about 3 centimeters long and created an intestinal anastomosis: we connected the remaining part of the rectum to the small intestine and formed a special small-intestine reservoir, which will subsequently take over the functions of the removed organ».

This enabled the surgeons to preserve natural bowel function. In addition, the procedure was performed laparoscopically, which benefited the young man’s rehabilitation.

«This approach is radically transforming oncology in our country», – emphasizes Andrey Kaprin, Director General of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. «Today, we increasingly talk not only about treatment, but also about the life that awaits our patient afterwards. Will he be able to integrate into society, return to work and pursue the things he loves? Modern high-tech treatment makes it possible not only to avoid severe disabling surgery, but also to give patients a happy life filled with positive emotions!»