Fight for Life: The Story of a Veteran’s Unbending Spirit

“EVEN IF YOU GET SICK, NEVER REFUSE TREATMENT!”

Today, on Defender of the Fatherland Day, we will tell you the story of the rescue of an infantryman of the USSR armed forces from Kyrgyzstan. Our hero is a military pensioner who devoted his entire life to serving in the Soviet army. Now Ishenbek is 72 years old, before his illness he lived a very active life – he raised 9 grandchildren, rode a bicycle 10 kilometers every day and walked another 5.

Our hero felt the first alarm bells when he began to notice some slowness while performing even routine tasks. “Then I didn’t pay any attention to it, but the family insisted on seeing a doctor,” recalls Ishenbek. He went for a consultation to the clinic, and from there he was immediately referred to oncologists. After Ishenbek underwent all the necessary examinations, he was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Treatment had to begin immediately.

“I remember that at that time I did not attach any significance to this diagnosis, I saw the word “cancer” somewhere on paper and went on about my business. Due to family circumstances, treatment was postponed for almost another year.”

However, cancer doesn’t have days off. The disease began to progress, and blood in the stool was added to the already existing symptoms. “I became increasingly concerned about my own health, then I began to discuss a treatment plan with our oncologists. They told me that the operation could be performed here in Bishkek. But our capabilities in technology and modernity, of course, cannot compete with Russia’s.”

So Ishenbek ended up in Russia, at the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute – branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the “National Medical Research Radiological Centre” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, where he was fully examined and offered to perform an operation. “Here I first met Turon Savronovich Mirzaev, a doctor in the abdominal department of the Institute. When we talked, he calmed me down and dispelled my anxiety. I remember how the doctor said: “Dad, everything will be fine, we’ll figure it out!” And he fulfilled his promise, life goes on!”

“The location of the patient’s tumor focus was extremely “unfortunate”; it was critically close to the anal canal,” explains Turon Savronovich. The closer the lesion, the more difficult it is to maintain the rectum and its functionality, which in the future can lead to such a serious problem as fecal incontinence. We had to solve the difficult task of completely eliminating the malignant process, forming an anastomosis at an acceptable distance from the sphincter and anal ring, and at the same time preserving the functionality of the organs as much as possible.”

During the operation, which lasted 4 hours, surgeons led by the head of the Center for Abdominal Surgery of the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute Doctor of Medical Sciences Vladimir Trifonov managed to save the rectum, restore the colon and remove a temporary stoma, which in 1.5-2 months will be eliminated, and the function of the organ will be completely restored.

When we recorded this interview, Ishenbek was already preparing to be discharged. He said that he has many plans ahead that need to be implemented: meeting with his large family and, of course, raising the younger generation.

“Once here, I realized that even if you get sick, you should never refuse treatment. Choose P. Hertsen MORI which turned 125 years old!, – our hero finally concluded. There are good doctors, qualified specialists, excellent modern equipment. Therefore, if you are sick, get treatment! Come and get well!”