Man with giant tumor that made knee ‘disappear’ struggles not to amputate his leg in SP

Pedro Carlos Domingues Neto said, this Monday (19), that the pain started after a traffic accident, which happened 10 years ago. At the time, he broke his left leg on impact and had to have a plate put on. Already in the right leg, he was in pain, but the doctors said that they were sequels.

The years passed and the pains were increasing. Grandson noticed a lump on his right leg, but the tests showed nothing. Some day, he suffered a break even without having any falls. “I didn’t hit, I didn’t force, I didn’t jump, I didn’t do anything. My leg failed and in that it broke.”

He had his leg in a cast, but when he got home, Neto noticed that the area was swelling. In great pain, he cut the plaster. The former mother-in-law advised him to try medical care in the city of São Paulo, where she lived. At Santa Casa de São Paulo, again, the region was plastered and he was instructed to return in 15 days.

The man was hospitalized in Francisco Morato (SP), joined the line at the Health Services Supply Regulation Center (Cross) and was sent back to the Santa Casa. After four days, he was diagnosed with a tumor after performing a battery of tests.

Neto started treatment with Denosumab [medicamento que reduz a reabsorção óssea]. According to him, the doctors said that, after a year, he would leave for surgery. Finishing the treatment, he received guidance to wait 15 days and, after two months, nothing was resolved.

The treatment was resumed and lasted almost two more years. According to him, medical recommendations have changed. The professionals said that, now, the case would be solved with amputation. “They’re dragging me along until they say there’s no other way and that it’s going to have to be amputated”.

According to him, the doctors refused to give him morphine. “I live on morphine when the pain strikes. When I’m not, I avoid taking it because I know it’s a strong medication. The doctor doesn’t want to give me morphine. It’s not that I like it or want it, but it’s the only thing that takes my pain away.”

Neto says he wants to undergo surgery to remove the tumor, and not an amputation, as recommended by doctors at Santa Casa de São Paulo.

“They know that I went to the hospital in São Paulo and they are dragging me along. Now, do you want to send me to the same place? That’s what I’m not satisfied with. Send me to another hospital, to one where I will be treated with the minimum of respect”, he concluded.

Still according to the portfolio, he is still being accompanied by a medical team and the unit remains available to family members for any clarification.

Complexo Hospitalar Irmã Dulce (CHID) reported in a statement that the patient has been undergoing consultations and examinations at the unit for a year, and that he was diagnosed with a tumor in the leg and referred to a reference unit in oncology to continue the treatment.

The unit also emphasized that the patient is attended to and receives medication every time he appears at the hospital’s emergency room, but that at the moment there is no indication for hospitalization, and that it will guide the patient again regarding his clinical condition and how much the continuation of their therapeutic process

g1 got in touch with Praia Grande City Hall, but did not get a response until the last update of this report.

Pedro Carlos Domingues Neto said, this Monday (19), that the pain started after a traffic accident, which happened 10 years ago. At the time, he broke his left leg on impact and had to have a plate put on. Already in the right leg, he was in pain, but the doctors said that they were sequels.

The years passed and the pains were increasing. Grandson noticed a lump on his right leg, but the tests showed nothing. Some day, he suffered a break even without having any falls. “I didn’t hit, I didn’t force, I didn’t jump, I didn’t do anything. My leg failed and in that it broke.”

He had his leg in a cast, but when he got home, Neto noticed that the area was swelling. In great pain, he cut the plaster. The former mother-in-law advised him to try medical care in the city of São Paulo, where she lived. At Santa Casa de São Paulo, again, the region was plastered and he was instructed to return in 15 days.

The man was hospitalized in Francisco Morato (SP), joined the line at the Health Services Supply Regulation Center (Cross) and was sent back to the Santa Casa. After four days, he was diagnosed with a tumor after performing a battery of tests.

Neto started treatment with Denosumab [medicamento que reduz a reabsorção óssea]. According to him, the doctors said that, after a year, he would leave for surgery. Finishing the treatment, he received guidance to wait 15 days and, after two months, nothing was resolved.

The treatment was resumed and lasted almost two more years. According to him, medical recommendations have changed. The professionals said that, now, the case would be solved with amputation. “They’re dragging me along until they say there’s no other way and that it’s going to have to be amputated”.

According to him, the doctors refused to give him morphine. “I live on morphine when the pain strikes. When I’m not, I avoid taking it because I know it’s a strong medication. The doctor doesn’t want to give me morphine. It’s not that I like it or want it, but it’s the only thing that takes my pain away.”

Neto says he wants to undergo surgery to remove the tumor, and not an amputation, as recommended by doctors at Santa Casa de São Paulo.

“They know that I went to the hospital in São Paulo and they are dragging me along. Now, do you want to send me to the same place? That’s what I’m not satisfied with. Send me to another hospital, to one where I will be treated with the minimum of respect”, he concluded.

Still according to the portfolio, he is still being accompanied by a medical team and the unit remains available to family members for any clarification.

Complexo Hospitalar Irmã Dulce (CHID) reported in a statement that the patient has been undergoing consultations and examinations at the unit for a year, and that he was diagnosed with a tumor in the leg and referred to a reference unit in oncology to continue the treatment.

The unit also emphasized that the patient is attended to and receives medication every time he appears at the hospital’s emergency room, but that at the moment there is no indication for hospitalization, and that it will guide the patient again regarding his clinical condition and how much the continuation of their therapeutic process

g1 got in touch with Praia Grande City Hall, but did not get a response until the last update of this report.