On November 17, K Hospital (Hanoi) reported a successful case of stomach cancer treatment for a very elderly patient.
In early November, Mrs. B. was admitted to Department of Surgical Ward 1, K Hospital by her family after a tumor was discovered in her stomach.
The patient’s family stated that initially, she only experienced dull pain in the epigastric region and poor appetite. More recently, she had bloating, indigestion, and nausea. The family took the patient for examination and consultation at three different medical facilities.
The patient is stable after stomach cancer surgery (Photo: Ha Linh).
Endoscopy results showed the patient had a tumor approximately 3x4cm in size in the pyloric antrum, causing pyloric stenosis (leading to nausea, vomiting, indigestion). Pathological results confirmed that the patient had stomach cancer. A CT scan of the chest and abdomen did not detect distant metastasis, so Mrs. B. was scheduled for surgery.
Doctors in Department of Surgical Ward 1 thoroughly consulted with the patient and her family about the effectiveness and risks of various treatment methods. The patient agreed to the surgery, overcoming the misconception that “old age means severe illness, so surgery should be avoided.”
The surgery proceeded with meticulous preparation from the surgical team and the anesthesia-resuscitation team. Risk reduction strategies were put in place, including optimizing blood pressure, stabilizing cardiovascular status, preparing cardiovascular emergency equipment, and hemorrhage control plans.
The surgeons performed a near-total gastrectomy, thorough lymph node dissection, and reconnected the remaining stomach to the jejunum to restore digestive continuity. After the surgery, the patient was closely monitored.
After surgery, the patient’s health is stable and her spirits are optimistic (Photo: Ha Linh).
“The surgery not only demonstrates the efforts, expertise, and technical skills of the doctors but also reflects the patient’s and her family’s understanding, optimism, and determination to treat the disease, despite the patient’s advanced age,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kim Van Vu, Head of Department of Surgical Ward 1.
Currently, Mrs. B. is recovering well, eating normally again, and her spirits are very optimistic.
K Hospital reported that cases of elderly patients like Mrs. B. successfully treated for cancer are not uncommon. Over time at K Hospital, many elderly patients have been diagnosed early and treated promptly.
“The fortunate thing is that patients are detected at an early stage, which allows for simpler treatment methods and favorable outcomes. This shows that early cancer screening is especially important,” Assoc. Prof. Vu stated.
Early cancer screening leads to higher treatment effectiveness, reduced mortality rates, lower treatment costs, improved quality of life, and prevention of cancer complications.
Recently, patients have become increasingly aware of the role of early cancer screening. This is particularly significant for public health care and supports medical professionals in the process of examination and treatment.
“Therefore, everyone should maintain the habit of regular health check-ups and early cancer screening to increase the chance of cure if unfortunately diagnosed with the disease,” the expert advised.
