According to foreign media reports, 33-year-old foreign boy Andy Vogel suffers from pseudomyxoma peritonei, which is a rare "slow-growing tumor" that first grows in the appendix and then gradually spreads to other organs.

According to foreign media reports, 33-year-old foreign boy Andy Voge suffers from pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), which is a rare "slow-growing tumor" that first started to grow in the appendix , and then gradually spread to other organs.

In September 2021, Andy underwent a 17-hour multi-organ transplant operation, which could be described as a narrow escape. Nearly a year later, he miraculously returned to a fulfilling life.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a low-grade malignant mucinous tumor that occurs in the peritoneal parietal layer, omentum, and serosal surface of the intestinal wall. It is a rare disease and has a high misdiagnosis rate. The clinical manifestations are abdominal distention and the abdominal cavity being filled with a large amount of jelly-like mucus and ascites. The age of onset is 40 to 70 years old, and it is more common in women. The incidence rate in women is three times higher than that in men.

According to Andy, his initial symptom was a bulge in his abdomen. "I didn't think much about it at first...my girlfriend called it a funny belly button."

However, he still felt that there was a bulge in his abdomen. He needed to see a doctor for a check-up. The doctor told him that it was umbilical hernia and said, "Just let nature take its course."

Fortunately, the subsequent blood test showed abnormal enzymes, indicating that his condition was not simple.

"So we did an ultrasound the next day and they found a mass in my liver," Andy said.

His cancer diagnosis was later confirmed via a CT scan, much to Andy and his wife's shock as he had always been in good health.

"We ate well a few days before I went for the run. Everything was normal," Andy said.

Dr. Anil Vaidya, a surgeon at Cleveland Clinic and Andy's primary care physician, explained on ABC News that this rare cancer is difficult to detect because it usually Deterioration goes unnoticed.

Patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei often present with symptoms of abdominal pain and abdominal swelling.

In order to cure the cancer, Andy continued to have surgery. Although it was successful at first, it was not long before his condition became more serious than before.

"I was vomiting every day, couldn't keep my body hydrated, was constantly malnourished and dehydrated." He said it was possible the cancer caused his intestinal obstruction.

Then he got the "devastating" news that he would not be able to undergo another surgery and would be living on a feeding tube.

"I thought the surgery was done," said his wife, Rachel, while Andy added: "They thought I had about six months left."

That's when Dr. Vidya proposed The alternative that saved his life: a multi-organ transplant to replace his dying organs with healthy ones that were never used to treat PMP.

"This step is so critical...Multiple organ transplants sound scary." Andy said, but after a few days he came to the conclusion that he had no way out.

Incredibly, luck was on Andy's side this time, his liver closed well and he was matched with a donor who was able to give him the seven new liver transplants he needed. The organs are the liver, stomach, pancreas and duodenum (pancreaticoduodenal complex), spleen, small intestine and right colon.

These organs gave Andy a second chance at life, and he can now eat again and even complete a 30-mile bike ride.

He hopes his story can remind others in similar situations that hope is always ahead.

"In every area of ​​life, hope shines. Never give up that hope." Dr. Vidya said.

Jiupai News intern reporter Liu Yating

[Source: Jiupai News]

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