# Doctors remove 23kg tumour from patient **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 26, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501 "2010-08-26T05:19:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/1 "2010-08-26T05:19:40Z")
[Story here](http://www.news.com.au/world/doctors-remove-worlds-largest-tumour-from-patients-womb/story-e6frfkyi-1225910176554) The surgeon in the photo looks a bit like a successful angler with his catch. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/2 "2010-08-26T05:26:40Z")
When I see stories like that, I always wonder how people let things get this far. Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/3 "2010-08-26T10:53:02Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > When I see stories like that, I always wonder how people let things get this far. Hmmm. speaking from experience, I had one go from pea to pingpong ball size in 30 days [and that was the fastest from doc appointment to surgery I _ever_ had as a Navy dependant!] and a second one go from nothing to the size of an orange in about 7 months [only thing that caught it was an ultrasound to check my endometrial lining and they spotted the mass on my ovary. I did mention to the doc just before the ultra sound that my ovulations were a bit more painful than normal:dubious::rolleyes::smack:] ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/4 "2010-08-26T11:08:32Z")
My god, it looks like the surgeon’s holding a Thanksgiving turkey. A big, red, bloody, horrifying Thanksgiving turkey. A malignant tumor that size? Is there any chance that she could be cancer-free after that? ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/5 "2010-08-26T12:08:02Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > When I see stories like that, I always wonder how people let things get this far. Hmmm. I dunno, abdominal tumors aren’t always obvious until things are pretty far along unless you’re getting obvious symptoms. I’ve known many people who put on 40 lbs or more in a year and a half, mostly in their belly. Especially if you already have a fat belly as most adults over 40 do, who would guess their 18-month weight gain was a giant cancer? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/6 "2010-08-26T13:00:37Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > A malignant tumor that size? Is there any chance that she could be cancer-free after that? It’s not obvious from the article that it’s cancerous. Yeah, it says “malignant,” but that could be an error on the part of the reporter. There’s no quote from the doctor saying it’s cancerous. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/7 "2010-08-26T13:09:06Z")
Not to mention that, given it’s location in the womb, the woman may have been assumed to be pregnant, especially if the tumor interfered with menstruation. Seriously - “My belly’s getting bigger - I think there’s something wrong!” “Whoa, little lady - you’re expecting!” “No, really, something’s not right -” “When was your last period?” “About two months ago, but -” “Well, then you’re pregnant. Any morning sickness?” “It _hurts_ doctor, and I really think it’s something else -” “Nonsense. You’re pregnant. Take these vitamins and see me in three weeks.” Nine months later: “Whoa, you should be having that baby any day now!” “Doctor - I’ve been pregnant _twelve months_ now! I don’t think this is normal!” “Hmm… well, yeah, maybe there is something else going on here. Let me schedule you for some tests” Because, you know, a rapidly growing lump _anywhere else_ besides the womb is going to be assumed to be some Horrible Disease Thing but if it’s in the uterus it’s a baby until proven otherwise. Even worse, of course, if the woman doesn’t go to prenatal visits and just assumes she’s pregnant until around month 10 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/8 "2010-08-26T13:27:10Z")
Broomstick, there is no way on earth your scenario would ever play out. No doctor would mistake a tumor for a baby for longer than it takes to get the results of the blood work. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/9 "2010-08-26T14:20:47Z")
Yeah, and if that was messed up, the ultrasound should be a pretty dead giveaway. ---
**Author:** ![seanchai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@seanchai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seanchai)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/10 "2010-08-26T14:29:08Z")
A young woman I know, had a 12 pound tumor removed (and also all the internal baby making equipment, as a precaution) four years ago. She didn’t know anything about it being there but found that driving over railway tracks hurt a LOT, so went to the doctor’s as a precaution. “Something’s not right.” It was benign, thank goodness. an seanchai ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/11 "2010-08-26T14:44:47Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Broomstick, there is no way on earth your scenario would ever play out. No doctor would mistake a tumor for a baby for longer than it takes to get the results of the blood work. Not to mention that they usually have you come back sooner than 9 months and do ultrasounds. Also the woman was 54 and most likely menopausal. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/12 "2010-08-26T16:24:12Z")
23kg – is that a lot? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/13 "2010-08-26T16:28:13Z")
50.7063203 pounds I was told I had a relative who had a tumor the size of a basketball removed from her abdominal area somewhere at an age of about 70 y.o. She was somewhat overweight and apparently had no reason to believe some of that weight might be a tumor. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/14 "2010-08-26T16:50:10Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > 23kg – is that a lot? [Google does the heavy lifting.](http://www.google.ca/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=23+kg+pounds&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=k5p2TLGBEcb-ngeey8zBAQ) The rest of the world uses it when you US Americans insist on posting things in non-metric measurements. I guess I can see these things sneaking up on you, especially a womb tumour (that isn’t a baby). ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/15 "2010-08-26T16:51:30Z")
Maybe a medical doper can explain how in the world they biopsy something that big? With tumors we take off animals we usually have to cut them up before sending them off. Would they first xray something that big? Take core samples? Just shave a little off the top? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/16 "2010-08-26T16:54:30Z")
Revoltingly compelling. Or maybe it’s compellingly revolting? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/17 "2010-08-26T16:55:22Z")
I’m thinking with something that big, the first ultrasound would be all the diagnostic they would need - once the ultrasound tech goes, “Holy SHIT!”, I think it’s next stop surgery. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/18 "2010-08-26T17:29:42Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Revoltingly compelling. Or maybe it’s compellingly revolting? You decide, I can’t bring myself to click the link. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/19 "2010-08-26T17:42:14Z")
It’s a doctor in scrubs holding what looks like a big ball of beef about the size of a beach ball. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/20 "2010-08-26T17:45:03Z")
Raw beef. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501.md?page=2)