Almost lost foot after ignoring cancer test for black 'mole'

Missing the type of cancer that metastasizes quickly

Female patient KTP has just had surgery by doctors at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases to treat cancer that has caused a lesion that has "eaten" almost the entire sole of her foot.

About 3 months before being hospitalized, Ms. P. had a small black spot on the sole of her foot that looked like a mole, but was not painful or itchy. When she went to a medical facility for examination, she was treated as a benign tumor (only stitched and not biopsied to evaluate for cancer).

Until melanoma is ruled out, do not touch or poke unusual moles.

PHOTO: TN

But the sting did not heal, and two new black spots appeared, so Ms. P. continued treatment at another facility. The injury continued to spread and more black spots appeared at the old stitches.

Because of not being cured after examination and treatment, Ms. P. self-treated by electrocautery and using drugs of unknown origin for more than a month, causing the wound to spread, become deeper, and swell, causing pain.

When the ulcerated sole of her foot became deeper and "eaten" almost the entire way, Ms. P. went to a dermatology clinic for examination. The biopsy results confirmed that she had melanoma, a skin cancer that progresses rapidly, metastasizes easily, and is very dangerous.

At this time, she was transferred to a specialized hospital for treatment and reconstruction, but her condition did not improve, so she was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

Doctors at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases assessed that patient P. suffered damage at the main weight-bearing position of the body, making it very difficult to perform plastic surgery, with a risk of losing motor function and a very high risk of having to amputate the foot. Doctors applied the technique of creating a retrograde plantar flap, helping the patient to keep his foot and preserve his ability to walk.

Regarding the above case, Dr. Duong Manh Chien, a plastic surgery specialist at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said: "This is a typical case showing that melanoma can start silently like a mole, but progress very quickly and dangerously. Because it is painless and not itchy, many people are subjective. If not completely removed from the beginning, cancer cells can spread to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and even the brain."

"Melanoma does not respond to chemotherapy or radiotherapy like many other cancers. Therefore, radical surgery from the beginning is a vital factor for survival. The safe resection margin needs to be 10 times larger than the tumor thickness. Burning, puncturing, cutting without biopsy, or delaying treatment can cause cancer cells to spread and metastasize rapidly," Dr. Chien added.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/suyt-mat-ban-chan-do-bi-bo-qua-xet-nghiem-ung-thu-not-ruoi-den-185250408120903631.htm