«YOU CAN LIVE AND ENJOY, BUT LIFE HAS TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY»

Viktor Bulba, a mechanical engineer specializing in construction and road machinery, is a patient at the National Medical Research Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. His story is one of resilience and hope. Throughout his career, Viktor managed road sections and construction in the North, as well as in Western and Eastern Siberia. He also worked on inter-field roads, launch pads for drilling, and engineering preparations in the tundra. Viktor has a large and supportive family, including his spouse, two daughters, four grandchildren, and a beloved pet dog.

Many years ago, Viktor built his dream house with his own hands. “It would seem that now you can live and enjoy, but life has turned out differently,” he reflects. At 72, Viktor began experiencing abdominal pain about two years ago. Following a series of tests—ultrasound, CT, and MRI—doctors discovered that he had multiple cancers: in the rectum and both kidneys.

His family rallied around him. “Firstly, it was a shock,” Viktor recalls. “My children immediately started searching online for the best clinics with experienced doctors and positive reviews.” Their search led them to the National Medical Research Radiological Centre. Specialists from the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute – branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre, proposed a step-by-step treatment plan: first addressing the rectal cancer, then treating the kidney cancers.

A week later, Viktor was admitted for hospitalization. Following the initial surgery, he underwent a course of drug therapy and had a stoma closure. He handled this with dignity and, after a short recovery, prepared for the next phase: the removal of tumors from both kidneys.

Just before the operation, Viktor faced another challenge. While harvesting in his garden in Belgorod, an air raid siren went off, causing him to fall and injure his shoulder. This complication made the surgery more difficult, as the team needed to address tumors in both kidneys simultaneously. The surgical team, led by Alexey Sergeevich Kalpinsky, head of the surgical department at the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute, faced additional challenges. The tumor on the right side was exophytic (growing outside the organ), while the left tumor was intraparenchymal (inside the organ), making it difficult to detect.

During the surgery, an ultrasound service was used to identify tumor borders, allowing for precise resection. The doctors successfully completed the surgery, removing all tumors and preserving both kidneys.

Viktor’s postoperative recovery went well, and he was discharged home on the fourth day. “I want to say a big thank you to all the medical staff who took care of me!” Viktor says with a smile. “Special thanks to my attending physicians. It’s clear that the Institute has a team of dedicated professionals. There are no unnecessary or random people here!”