A man from China had been living with a mass in his stomach the size of a beach ball for over 10 years. After many failed attempts to try and cure his condition through natural remedies, he finally decided to seek professional help.
Doctors at the Military General Hospital in Sichuan Province told Zhang Cheng, 33, that the mass in his stomach was actually a 33-pound tumor. Despite it being a benign growth, the tumor still had to be removed as it was already pressing on Cheng's internal organs and bowel.
Man's Condition Required Complex Surgery
According to Daily Mail, the intricate six-hour operation needed the combined forces of three different clinical departments at MGH. Dr. Dai Ruiwu, the lead operating surgeon, said Cheng needed to be kept in the hospital's intensive care unit after the successful operation.
"Because our family is poor, my brother missed several opportunities to treat the illness," said Cheng's sister. "We have visited many other hospitals in the past, doctors said the success rate was low so we were sent home."
Disheartened By So Many Rejections
Cheng's massive tumor not only hindered him physically, but romantically as well. His sister revealed to Chengdu Business Daily that his condition made it difficult for him to get a date. Cheng was single for most of his life as women were usually appalled at the sight of his awkwardly "pregnant" stomach.
Cheng initially went to the doctors sometime in 2004 when he started feeling discomfort in his stomach. It wasn't until two years later when doctors discovered the lump. Cheng wanted to have the lump removed, but he eventually became disheartened when all the hospitals he visited refused to operate on him due to the complexity of the operation.
Fast forward to this week, Cheng's successful operation wouldn't have been possible had it not been for his family's collective effort. They were the ones who raised money for Cheng's admission and operation at MGH.
