Pham Thi Lan, a woman from Nam Sach, Hai Duong Province, had lived with a 10kg tumour for 39 years.

Pham Thi Lan had lived with a 10-kilo-tumour on her foot for 39 years. Photo by Vietnam-Germany Hospital.

Lan's mother, Duong Thi Bon, said her husband suffered from neurofibromatosis and all three of their daughters had inherited this disease. 

Since she was small, tiny tumours appeared all over Lan's body and grew with time. 

Doctors at Viet-Germany Friendship Hospital said the huge, ulcerating tumour on Lan's leg and foot deformed her leg. 

Other tumours on her face and chest weakened Lan's health. When she was admitted to the hospital, she was malnourished and anaemic.

According to Dr Nguyen Hong Ha, Neurofibromatosis type 1 the most common and often found in people with genetic diseases. 

The symptoms include light brown spots on the skin, freckling in the armpits or groin area, small bumps on the iris of the eyes, bumps on or under the skin and bone deformities. 

The family medical history will also be used for the diagnosis. Some malicious variant forms may need endoscopic or deep analysis of the tumour.

The doctors at Viet-Germany Friendship Hospital said they carried out various operations but this case was more complicated because many blood vessels had grown and the temperature of the tumour was two to three degrees higher than normal body temperature. Lan, who was already anaemic, may face blood loss.

Lan's condition has stabilised but the doctors are still monitoring her recovery and other tumours.

"I lived in inferiority and thought life was a deadlock for 39 years. I really appreciate the doctors who helped me," Lan said.

The tumour deformed Pham Thi Lan's leg.

Dtinews