WHEN A DOCTOR BECOMES A PATIENT: THE STORY OF ZOYA NIKOLAYEVNA

Zoya Nikolayevna is a therapist with many years of experience. She has always been attentive to her health: she underwent regular check-ups, consulted her colleagues, and strictly followed medical prescriptions.

At the next routine checkup, the woman was diagnosed with an endometrial polyp, a mass that requires special attention in postmenopause. As a physician, she was well aware that its removal was a necessary measure to reduce possible risks.

“Endometrial polyps are benign overgrowths of the uterine mucosa. They occur in 1030% of women and are most typical for the age group of 4060 years, although they can occur in younger patients,” says gynecologist of the N. Lopatkin Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology (SRIUIR) – the branch of the FSBI “National Medical Research Radiological Centre” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Kheda Maltsagova.

In most cases, polyps are not threatening and have only a 1% chance of becoming cancerous. However, there are factors that increase the risk: obesity, hormonal disorders, diabetes and long-term uncontrolled use of hormonal drugs. Realizing the importance of timely and quality treatment, Zoya Nikolaevna turned to NMRRC – center with a high reputation and recognized professionalism of specialists.

“In the case of our patient, the disease was asymptomatic, without any alarming signals. And, of course, after removing the polyp, we sent it for histologic examination. However, the result was quite unexpected and we found a moderately differentiated cancer of the uterine body,” emphasizes Kheda Ramzanovna.

To clarify the stage of the disease and rule out metastases, the woman underwent a comprehensive examination at N. Lopatkin Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology, on the basis of which an individualized treatment and examination plan was drawn up.

“Our patient’s story is a reminder that the absence of complaints does not always mean the absence of disease. Many serious diseases, including cancer, can be asymptomatic for a long time. In Zoya Nikolaevna’s case, it was regular check-ups that helped to detect the pathology at an early stage, and thus to start treatment in time and save her life,” emphasizes the specialist.

Thanks to early detection and timely treatment, Zoya Nikolaevna has a favorable prognosis. However, she now needs to be regularly monitored by an oncologist. In the first two years after treatment, she will have to undergo check-ups every 36 months to monitor her condition and notice possible changes in time.