Cameroonian Woman Overcomes Stomach Cancer & HIV With Advanced Surgery

In a remarkable display of resilience and medical excellence, Mrs Carine Ziba (name changed), a 51-year-old HIV-positive patient from Cameroon, has triumphed over a critical stomach cancer diagnosis. Her life-changing journey unfolded at Shalby Sanar International Hospitals, Gurugram, under the expert care of Dr Archit Pandit, Director and Head of Surgical Oncology.

Mrs Ziba's ordeal began with persistent abdominal pain and frequent vomiting, leading to a series of evaluations, including a whole-body PET CT scan, ultrasound endoscopy, and biopsies. These tests confirmed the diagnosis of Carcinoma Stomach with Gastric Outlet Obstruction and a Gastric mass.

Faced with a locally advanced disease, surgery was the only viable option. In the operating room, the surgical team encountered a challenging mass intertwined with vital organs such as the liver, large intestine, and small intestine. The multi-organ resection involved Distal Gastrectomy, En-bloc Liver Wedge Resection, Mid Transverse Colectomy, and Proximal Jejunal Resection, meticulously dissecting a significant presence of nodes.

Following the surgery, Mrs Ziba began her recovery journey with a gradual transition to a soft diet. Her vitals stabilised, and her determination remained steadfast, leading to her discharge on the fifth-day post-surgery.

Reflecting on the complexity of stomach cancer, Dr Archit Pandit noted, "As the fifth most common cancer in males and seventh in females, stomach cancers are challenging to treat and difficult to cure. Often, at the time of surgery, it is found to be inoperable due to local or distant spread in the abdomen."

Regarding Mrs Ziba's case, he added, “She underwent a Multi-Organ Resection for Stomach Cancer where a part of the liver, large intestine, and part of the small intestine were removed. The complexity increases in immunocompromised patients such as Mrs Carine.”

Mrs Carine Ziba's victory over stomach cancer, intertwined with HIV, is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the skilled hands of her medical team. Her journey from a critical diagnosis to recovery underscores the importance of advanced surgical interventions and the unwavering will to survive.