Recently, patient Phạm Quang T., 54 years old, from Đồng Xuân commune, Thanh Ba district, Phú Thọ province, underwent successful surgery at K Hospital for two cancers: stomach cancer and esophageal cancer. The surgery included esophageal reconstruction using the colon. This case is considered one of the complex surgical treatments, fortunately detected at an early stage for both cancers.

According to statistics from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), in 2022, Vietnam recorded 16,277 new cases of stomach cancer, ranking third among cancers with the highest mortality rates at 13,264 deaths. Additionally, esophageal cancer is also an alarming disease with 3,686 new cases and ranks seventh among cancers with high mortality rates, with 3,470 deaths.

Patient Phạm Quang T., 54 years old, was admitted for treatment at the Department of Abdominal Surgery II, K Hospital, diagnosed with both stomach and esophageal cancers. According to information from the department, the patient was admitted with persistent dull pain in the upper abdominal area for about three months. Otherwise, his health had been stable with no other unusual symptoms.

Dr. Doan Trong Tu, Head of the Department of Abdominal Surgery II at K Hospital, stated: "Patient T. underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, revealing a 1.5 cm mucosal lesion located in the lower third of the esophagus, approximately 38 cm from the incisors. The stomach showed signs of congestive inflammation and a 2 cm ulcerated, proliferative lesion. Biopsies were taken from both sites, with results confirming squamous cell carcinoma in the esophagus and adenocarcinoma in the stomach."

A whole-body computed tomography (CT) scan showed no thickening of the esophageal or stomach walls, no enlarged lymph nodes suspicious for metastasis, and no distant metastatic lesions. The patient underwent endoscopic ultrasound, which staged the cancers as follows: esophageal cancer in the lower third with multiple lesions at cT1bN0M0 stage, and gastric antral cancer at cT2N0M0 stage. The doctors determined this to be an early-stage dual primary cancer case. Fortunately, the patient sought timely medical examination and was diagnosed early, giving him the opportunity for surgical treatment."

Although diagnosed with two digestive cancers, thanks to timely health checkups and examinations, Mr. Phạm Quang T. had the chance to undergo a relatively simple and minimally invasive treatment method: surgery. K Hospital doctors also advise the public to pay attention to regular health checkups and gastrointestinal endoscopy screening upon reaching the appropriate age, regardless of whether any abnormal symptoms are present.

The patient underwent esophageal reconstruction using the colon, and the complex surgery was successfully completed.