Doctors at Fortis Hospital Manesar successfully removed a 5.4 kg cancerous breast tumour from a 44-year-old woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The patient had lived with untreated breast cancer for more than six months. By the time she arrived in India, the tumour had grown to approximately 25 × 25 × 20 cm, occupying the entire right breast and developing into a large, open and infected wound.
A team led by Dr Mansi Chowhan, Breast Oncoplastic Surgeon and Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology, Fortis Hospital Manesar, performed the complex surgery.
Stabilising the Patient Before Surgery
The patient arrived in critical condition with severe anaemia, malnutrition and sepsis. Moreover, the tumour had developed into an open wound with foul-smelling discharge. A PET-CT scan showed that although the tumour was extensive, the cancer had not spread to distant organs or lymph nodes.
Therefore, doctors first stabilised her condition and controlled the infection before proceeding with surgery. The team then successfully removed the tumour and performed a skin graft to cover the large affected area. The graft healed well, and the patient is recovering.
As per the press release issued by Fortis Hospital Manesar, the patient will now undergo chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, with breast reconstruction planned thereafter.
Multidisciplinary Care Enables Recovery
Dr Mansi Chowhan said the case presented significant challenges because of the tumour’s size, infection, anaemia and the patient’s poor nutritional condition. She emphasised that stabilising the patient before surgery was crucial and stressed the importance of seeking timely medical evaluation for any changes in breast anatomy.
Mr Indrajeet Kumar Singh, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Manesar, said the case demonstrated the hospital’s multidisciplinary approach to managing complex cancer cases. He added that coordinated care across specialties helped the patient progress towards the next stage of treatment.
Through advanced surgical expertise and comprehensive cancer care, Fortis Hospital Manesar continues to support patients from India and across the world.