# 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:** 3
**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 27, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/41 "2010-08-27T00:55:44Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > > [@Wile\_E](#): > > > > 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. > > OK, but do you realize how many women _don’t_ go to the doctor pronto when they suspect pregnancy? It’s more common than you think, in which case medicine might not get involved until month 9 or so. That’s not the scenario you originally proposed and that’s what we were responding to. ---
**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 27, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/42 "2010-08-27T01:35:31Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > > > [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) > > A better example would be to type in “23 kg in pounds” in the google search field, you get the answer at the top of the page. Ah, good call. I knew I’d managed to get that result sometimes. > [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > Incineration, probably. Isn’t most medical waste burnt?\ It was at the hospitals I worked at - but first the parts that come off people in surgery are examined by a pathologist then kept for a couple of months or so. True story - when I was a lab tech student rotating through histotechnology, I came back from lunch to half a leg just sitting in the medical waste garbage can (the old ladies running the histo lab had decided it was time to throw it out, so just dumped it in the garbage can). Since the thing was stinking up the joint something fierce, I wrapped it up and took it out to the further away garbage can. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/43 "2010-08-27T01:59:34Z")
> [@Gukumatz](#): > > She only weighed 105 without the tumour, though. Which is still pretty big, but not HOT DAMN YOU’VE GOT A MEATBALL THE SIZE OF TEXAS IN YOUR ABDOMEN-hiding capable. Now, now, that was only a Rhode Island sized meatball. Or maybe Delaware… ---
**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 27, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/44 "2010-08-27T02:07:16Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > > [@Broomstick](#): > > > > OK, but do you realize how many women _don’t_ go to the doctor pronto when they suspect pregnancy? It’s more common than you think, in which case medicine might not get involved until month 9 or so. > > That’s not the scenario you originally proposed and that’s what we were responding to. So? Someone asked why a tumor like that would be ignored/untreated for so long. Well, there are two guesses. Be my guest and come up with more. You do know that not everyone in the world has access to ultrasounds and good prenatal care, yes? That describes First World care (and, for the US, care for people who have health insurance). Granted, in major urban areas Argentina has good care, but for all we know this woman comes from some remote backwater part of the country. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/45 "2010-08-27T05:56:57Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > 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? With a tumor that large they would probably start off with an ultrasound and follow with a CT scan. A biopsy would usually not be performed as you would like to avoid spreading cells of the tumor within the abdominal cavity, and you already know that this needs to come out. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/46 "2010-08-27T07:28:54Z")
> [@Gukumatz](#): > > > [@MN\_Maenad](#): > > > > Well, the story says the woman weighed 140kg, which is about 300 lb. I’ve got some 300 lb friends, I could see them hiding a large tumor like that. Hope she has a full recovery. > > She only weighed 105 without the tumour, though. Which is still pretty big, but not HOT DAMN YOU’VE GOT A MEATBALL THE SIZE OF TEXAS IN YOUR ABDOMEN-hiding capable. We don’t know how tall she is, though. a 50 pound weight gain is going to look a lot different on a woman 5’8" or taller than one only 5’. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/47 "2010-08-27T09:56:34Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > With a tumor that large they would probably start off with an ultrasound and follow with a CT scan. A biopsy would usually not be performed as you would like to avoid spreading cells of the tumor within the abdominal cavity, and you already know that this needs to come out. But a biopsy of the mass _after_ taking it would likely be done. I asked why the x-ray since I thought, like you, this and other imaging diagnostics would have been done before surgery. But after surgery, I’m sure they’d want to confirm what they think it is, plus check multiple surgical margins to make sure they are “clean” and they didn’t leave some nest of tumor cells behind that would need treatment later. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/48 "2010-08-27T10:29:43Z")
You weigh 105kg. You know you’re fat, the world lets you know your fat, the few times you go to the doctor, instead of concentrating on the reason for your visits, he/she spends most of the time lecturing you on your weight. It reminds you of your childhood, of your parents lecturing you, your classmates teasing you, the disapproving looks you got from strangers on the street. You feel ashamed. You notice your pants getting tight in the waist. Dammit, you’re gaining weight again! You try to eat less, exercise more, but it doesn’t seem to make any difference. You don’t go to the doctor, because what doctor is going to believe you? Besides, you feel fine apart from the weight gain, so what’s the point of going to the doctor? You continue to gain weight, your waistline continues to expand. You feel helpless, you still don’t go to the doctor. You’re starting to feel a bit unwell, you’re tired most of the time, but you know it’s because you’re getting fatter, because that’s what happens to fat people. You’ve only yourself to blame, even though you can’t account for the weight gain. You try not to think about it, because thinking about it only makes you more depressed. So you avoid looking in the mirror, you start wearing stretch fabric clothing because it’s more comfortable, and you don’t talk to anyone about it. You don’t get out much anyway, so noone really notices the change in you. Then here’s the really ridiculous bit - you realise there’s a mass in your belly, but you still don’t want to go to the doctor, because if there is something wrong with you, it’s still your fault for being fat. So you try and put it out of your mind. Until the day you realise it’s gotten very big and you really need to seek help for it. So you decide you’ll call the doctor and make an appointment. You’ll do it next week. Next week is quite busy, and you don’t make the appointment. nevermind, you think to yourself, I’ll make the call next week. Or the week after. Or the week after. Eventually you make the appointment, the doctor examines you and whisks you off to the hospital. Yep, I could definitely see this happening. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/49 "2010-08-27T10:38:33Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > OK, but do you realize how many women _don’t_ go to the doctor pronto when they suspect pregnancy? It’s more common than you think, in which case medicine might not get involved until month 9 or so. However, if you get past month 5 or 6 without feeling any movement, I’d think you’d be a bit concerned? Even if the only medical treatment available was the village midwife, she’d be suspicious that something wasn’t quite right. And if she had a midwife’s trumpet (a.k.a. Pinard stethescope), a pretty basic piece of equipment, she’d be able to establish that there was no heartbeat or other sounds that she’d expect to hear. I can believe that lack of access to medical care may explain or at least help to explain how the tumor got so big, I just don’t think the thought-it-was-a-pregnancy angle maes much sense. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/50 "2010-08-27T13:00:35Z")
Would a tumor like this just be soft squishy blood-soaked tissue all the way through? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/51 "2010-08-27T13:19:10Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Would a tumor like this just be soft squishy blood-soaked tissue all the way through? As opposed to what… a pus balloon? ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/52 "2010-08-27T13:42:30Z")
Tumors (as opposed to cysts/abcesses) are ususally pretty firm, aren’t they? But they do tend to have prodigous blood supply. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/53 "2010-08-27T13:58:28Z")
I’m wondering if the woman was very poor and never received regular medical care. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/54 "2010-08-27T15:25:32Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Would a tumor like this just be soft squishy blood-soaked tissue all the way through? Malignant tumors are generally disorganized masses of tissue when compared with their tissues of origin. Since all the cells are growing and dividing like hell, it gets big, and will usually induce more blood vessels to grow to feed the mass. However, since it is disorganized, and each cell is greedy and growing like hell, they will often outstrip their blood supply, so the cells at the middle will starve, leaving necrotic dead goopy parts within the mass. In addition, depending on the tissue of origin, there can be different kinds of cells within the mass - liposarcomas will have fat, other tumors can have calcifications, stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/55 "2010-08-27T15:33:17Z")
Ew. Ew ew ew. But thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/56 "2010-08-27T16:58:45Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > How do they dispose of something that big and disgusting? “Iron Chef - Battle Neoplasm” ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/57 "2010-08-27T18:51:28Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > > [@scr4](#): > > > > Does that imply there are records of larger _benign_ tumors? > > Oh yes indeed: [300 pound tumor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvDUXKegwZw) I love the first comment, about how that really should have said “Tumor has 140-pound woman removed from its back.” ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/58 "2010-08-27T19:57:23Z")
So…_is_ it edible? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/59 "2010-08-27T20:02:40Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > 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. And it would be a HIPAA violation if he did. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501/60 "2010-08-27T20:08:22Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > > [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > > > 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. > > And it would be a HIPAA violation if he did. Does HIPAA apply in Argentina? Or have they something similar? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-remove-23kg-tumour-from-patient/551501.md?page=4)