Doctors remove tumor the 'size of a young child' from man's leg in groundbreaking operation
Mohd Salman, a 27-year-old from India, was diagnosed in 2019 with chondrosarcoma, a slow-growing cancer that forms in the connective tissue that protects the bones.
For more than five years, the tumor in his leg grew slowly without causing him any pain.
However, within the last six months, Salman's tumor ballooned in size to 76.5 pounds (34.7 kilograms), measuring four by two feet long - roughly the same weight as an eight-year-old child.
Salman, a former laborer, was robbed of his ability to walk and completely bedridden in excruciating pain.
After a handful of doctors across the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh areas of India failed to help Salman, orthopedic surgeon Dr Mohit Dhingra of AIMS Rishikesh hospital led the charge to remove the massive growth.
On June 9, 2025, Dr Dhingra and his team removed the tumor entirely in a brutal six-hour operation.
Dr Dhingra said: 'This was one of the most challenging operations we've taken on. The sheer weight and complexity of the tumor pushed our team to the edge of medical precision.'
Chondrosarcoma is made up of cells in the cartilage, firm tissue that protects the end of the bones.
It's most often found in the pelvis, hip or shoulder, though it can form in the spine in rare cases.
The disease makes up one in four bone cancer cases in the U.S., adding up to 1,300 every year. The condition kills about one in five patients within the first five years.
It's unclear if Salman's cancer spread to other organs or tissues, which could make his disease more difficult to treat.
While chemotherapy and radiation can help control the spread of aggressive forms of chondrosarcoma, the main treatment is surgery.
Salman's doctors first had to perform an MRI and an angiography, which visualizes blood vessels and arteries, to make sure they didn't hit any major structures during the operation.
One wrong move could have led to severe bleeding and damage to any nearby organs.
After six hours, doctors were able to remove the entire tumor with no complications.
Hospital leadership have called the operation a landmark moment.
Professor Meenu Singh, AIIMS-Rishikesh executive director, praised the surgical team's success, noting that it has raised the bar for handling extreme cases of rare cancers.
Though the tumor was massive, it is dwarfed in comparison to other growths in medical literature. The largest tumor ever recorded, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was 328 pounds (148.6).
The growth was an ovarian tumor removed from a 43-year-old woman in 1906.
More recently, in 2022, doctors in Brazil removed a 100-pound tumor from a 45-year-old woman after it grew for five years. It is unclear what kind of tumor it was.
Salman is still hospitalized more than three weeks after the surgery and may need rehabilitation to learn how to walk and perform daily tasks again.
He said: 'The doctors didn't just remove a tumor - they gave me my life back.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Kate Middleton opens up about her 'really difficult' cancer recovery as she meets with hospital patients and says 'you're not able to function normally'
The Princess of Wales spoke today of the pressure of putting on a 'brave face' through cancer treatment and recovery, where 'everybody expects you to be better - but that's not the case at all'. Kate, 43, who is continuing a slow and measured return to public life while in remission from cancer, said there was an expectation that patients 'crack on, get back to normal'. But, she said, the 'very scary, very daunting experience' did not end with the conclusion of treatment, with patients needing to take time to find their 'new normal'. She also revealed that she had tried acupuncture - a traditional Chinese medicine in which practitioners insert thin needles into specific parts of the body to promote healing and relieve pain - as part of her own recovery process. The deeply personal words from the Princess came as she met fellow patients at a cancer wellbeing centre at Colchester Hospital, helping to plant roses in a garden designed to help visitors find peace. The Princess, who in January announced she was in remission from a undisclosed form of cancer, recently cancelled an appearance at Royal Ascot, with aides stressing that she had always made clear her return to public life would be staggered. Describing a cancer diagnosis as 'life changing' and the treatment and recovery a 'rollercoaster', the Princess spoke of the importance of a holistic 'mind, body and spirit' approach. She repeatedly emphasised the importance of patients and their families being able to find support through their illness, saying it was too often difficult to reach. Kate, 43, looked stunning in a smart Blazé Milano beige blazer with pinstripes, retailing at around £1,000, and matching Ralph Lauren shirt as she visited the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital today. She added the Auree Bali birthstone necklace, with a gem marking her birth month of January. The royal added tailored brown trousers and a black belt - while giving a more casual effect with rolled up sleeves and white Veja Esplar leather trainers - and adding her engagement ring and Cartier watch. Speaking to patients and volunteers inside the centre, she said: 'There is a whole phase when you finish your treatment, everybody expects you to be better - go! But that's not the case at all.' She said: 'You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment's done, then it's like "I can crack on, get back to normal" but actually the phase afterwards is really difficult. 'You're not necessarily under the clinical team any longer but you're not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to. 'And actually someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment I think is really valuable.' She added: 'You have to find your new normal and that takes time.' The centre provides therapy, community groups and holistic treatments including reflexology. The Princess of Wales planting a rose during a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital in Essex The princess, speaking to therapist Amanda Green during a walkabout in heavy rain afterwards, disclosed that she had not yet tried reflexology but had undergone acupuncture as part of her own health journey. The visit offered the princess's most personal and extensive insight into her own experience to date, seeing her reference her own ill health several times while offering empathy to other patients and families. 'It's life-changing for anyone,' she said. 'Through first diagnosis or post treatment and things like that, it is a life-changing experience both for the patient but also for the families as well. 'And actually it sometimes goes unrecognised, you don't necessarily, particularly when it's the first time [of diagnosis], appreciate how much impact it is going to have. 'You have to find your new normal and that takes time… and it's a rollercoaster, it's not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. But the reality is it's not, you go through hard times. 'And to have a place like this to have the support network, through creativity and singing or gardening whatever it might be is so valuable and it's great this community has it. 'It would be great if lots of communities had this kind of support.' Speaking to patients, including those whose cancer has returned and one who had lost his husband to cancer, Catherine asked how the centre had helped them. 'That first-time diagnosis is a very scary journey,' she said, referring to the benefits of having an on-site hospital support network where many volunteers have had cancer themselves and survived. Many newly diagnosed patients at Colchester Hospital now visit the centre immediately for counselling and advice. 'To feel a sense of hope and positivity [from speaking to people who have already been through it] is such a positive thing in what is otherwise a very scary and daunting experience,' the princess said. She added, 'Science has told us that the mind, body and spirit experience is so important,' asking if the clinical team at the hospital had given any feedback about how the wellness centre had affected patients. After around an hour at the centre, she moved into the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital where she helped plant roses named after her. Getting her hands dirty and asking if she could do a bit more work, the princess dug alongside television garden designer Adam Frost and told him she was feeling 'good' and was pleased to be able to work outside. In the pouring rain, as the engagement overran by about half an hour, she told hospital staff and patients who had waited outside to see her: 'I'm just washing my hands - I'll be back.' She then undertook a walkabout, posing for selfies and group photographs in between asking people about their day. Kensington Palace said she was there to 'celebrate the incredible healing power of nature and raise awareness of the important role that spending time in nature plays in bringing us joy and supporting our mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing'. Her visit coincides with the donation of 50 'Catherine's Rose' plants, named for The Princess by the RHS with funds from sales going to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, to Colchester Hospital. Kate even had the opportunity to plant the 'Catherine Rose' herself, alongside staff who volunteer in the garden. The coral-pink floribunda has a rich perfume with hints of Turkish Delight and mango, the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) said in its announcement in May. Now, 500 'Catherine's Rose' plants will be donated to wellbeing and community gardens across the UK this summer, including Maggie's gardens for people affected by cancer, East Anglia's Children's Hospices and Horatio's Gardens for those living with spinal injuries. The Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital, which opened in July 2024, is a relaxing and restorative space for NHS staff, patients and visitors. The garden is a vital hub for the community, offering activities for those working in or visiting the hospital and was created in partnership with the RHS, Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity and NHS Charities Together, the latter of which is a joint patronage of The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Wellbeing Garden at Colchester, and the transformative impact it has on patients and NHS workers, forms part of the research for the RHS' Blueprint for Wellbeing Gardens, which will launch in Spring next year. Kate herself has been making a slow and measured return to duties after revealing she is in remission from cancer. This has included a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital back in January, where she underwent her treatment, as well as important events in the royal calendar, such as Trooping The Colour and the Order Of The Garter ceremony. The Princess arrived at Colchester Hospital with little fanfare, walking through the public garden as one mother told her little girl "that's a real life Princess, there!". The hospital changed the programme slightly, inviting her inside the wellbeing centre in the hopes that the rain would ease off before the Princess joined the gardening. The garden has been designed alongside a small lake, with ducks and ducklings walking among the visitors and a planting scheme including lavender, roses, salvia, allium and grasses. How acupuncture can help with the side effects of cancer Acupuncture can help with the side effects of cancer and its treatment, according to the charity Cancer Research. The 2,000-year-old traditional Chinese medicine, which involves putting fine needles into the body at particular points by a trained practitioner, is traditionally believed to to help energy - known as Qi - flow through the body. Modern practitioners believe it works by stimulating nerves and releasing natural morphine-like substances, as well as serotonin. Acupuncture, which is nowadays available in most hospitals, hospices and clinics, is believed to help with symptoms including fatigue, dry mouth, breathless and hot flushes due to anti-cancer treatments. People also say it helps with relaxation and a general sense of wellbeing, and say they see recuts after three to six sessions. The needles do not normally cause pain and are left in place for 10 to 30 minutes. Most studies, the charity says, shows that acupuncture is better than no treatment at all, even though more scientific research needs to be done on its benefits. When she did make it outside, however, she appeared unperturbed by the rain, and stood chatting with staff and members of the public so long that she was soaked. Meeting staff inside, the Princess - who was incredibly chatty and confident in discussing her personal experiences - praised the continuity of care the hospital provided and the network of volunteers which saw former patients returning to help others. "It must make a difference to people coming in here, in knowing there are people who have been through it too," she said. "Even through the hard times and loss, there is a sense of hope and community through a space like this." "From personal experience," the Princess added, holistic support during recovery "was that lifeline you need post treatment, when you're not receiving continuous care." The centre includes support groups as well as massage, reflexology, a family practitioner, advice on wig fittings, and a "cancer choir". "It's looking at treatment and recovery as complemented," the Princess said. "Looking at it from a mind, body and spirit perspective really matters. It's great, well done." Hearing from a group of patients who credited the centre with supporting them, the Princess added: "What seems to be really fantastic is that there is a real personal approach: what helps one person - acupuncture or something - might not help another. Others might want different support and to talk to someone." "Having gone through it myself", she added, she could now better understand the challenges of finding support. "Some people don't have access and don't necessarily know how this system can help them," she said. "Joining the dots for patients and there might be fantastic community work going on, if it's bitty and there isn't one place and one body bringing these support networks together, it's hard to reach out, particularly when you're vulnerable. "I can see it has such a transformative effect." Hearing about the centre's choir, the Princess added: "Having these creative avenues is really fantastic." The Princess carried a mug of tea around with her as she spoke to patients and volunteers, joking that "as a parent you know you'll keep losing your cup of tea" otherwise. "It's not just the patients, it's the family too," she said. "It's not just the cancer care, treatment, healing, it's about the whole person - mind, body and spirit. "We know now that all those three dimensions matter to the recovery journey." Repeatedly returning to her message of how even when people think you are better you are often not behind the scenes, it was abundantly clear that Catherine had been keen to make a point that her recovery, like so many others, was not necessarily 'straightforward' and the public should bear with her. The Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital, which opened in July 2024, is intended to be a "relaxing and restorative space for NHS staff, patients and visitors" and hosts activities for those in or visiting the hospital . The garden is taking part in research for the RHS' Blueprint for Wellbeing Gardens, which will launch in spring next year. Her visit today is the first time she's been seen in public since pulling out of Royal Ascot unexpectedly last month. Kate had been expected to attend the Berkshire racing festival with her husband Prince William - and was even announced in the official carriage procession - before Kensington Palace confirmed she would not be attending after all. MailOnline understood at the time that the Princess was 'disappointed' not to be in attendance 'but she has to find the right balance as she fully returns to public facing engagements'. Racegoers had been hoping to see the Princess after the Prince of Wales was named as one of the figures awarding race prizes during the second day of the meet. Ascot officials had confirmed at 12pm that the Princess was due to be in the second carriage in the royal procession with William, in a published carriage list. But less than half an hour later, Kensington Palace confirmed just before 12.30pm that Kate would not be attending - and a revised carriage list was published by Ascot. Royal aides insisted the original list had issued in 'error', according to the Daily Mail's Rebecca English. A message on social media, signed 'C', said: 'I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year' 'On some levels I actually think this is a good reminder that she was really seriously ill last year and underwent a significant period of chemo. As anyone who has been through that experience will tell you, you can feel very unwell for a long time afterwards. It can take years [to recover],' one source said. 'She wants to find the right balance and work with a greater degree of flexibility than before. 'This is a woman who plays a very important role in the monarchy [as Princess of Wales and future Queen], but in order for her to do it, both now and in the future, she needs to get this right,' they said. The Princess returned to work last Wednesday as she privately received Melinda Gates - the former wife of Microsoft Founder Bill - at Windsor Castle, marking her return to official duties. But today marks her first interacting with the public since her surprise absence at the racing festival. As her visit today emphasises, Kate has shared how she turned to nature in the midst of her cancer battle for solace and support. In May, she reaffirmed her commitment to nature as she launched a new video revealing how she embraced the 'healing power of nature' during her cancer treatment. The series began with 'Spring', a three-minute film narrated by Catherine and including footage of her and Prince William on the Isle of Mull earlier this month. The other three short films will be released across the course of the year, with Summer, Autumn and Winter editions in due course. Previously referring to how she sought comfort and strength from being outdoors with her family during her cancer battle last year, Kate said: 'Over the past year, nature has been my sanctuary. 'The natural world's capacity to inspire us, to nurture us and help us heal and grow is boundless and has been understood for generations. 'It is through nature, that we can fully understand the true interconnectedness of all things, the importance of balance and the importance of renewal and resilience. Connecting to nature helps us to experience a deeper sense of ourselves, the world around us, and each other.' She added: 'Spring is a season of rebirth, of hope and new beginnings. From the dark days of winter, the outside world quietly awakens with new life, and there comes a sense of optimism, anticipation, and positive, hopeful change. 'Just as nature revives and renews so too can we. Let us reconnect to nature and celebrate a new dawn within our hearts. 'It is often from the smallest of seeds that the greatest change can happen, and in this ever-growing complex world, we need to hold on to what connects us all. 'Spring is here, so let's make the most of it together.' The Royal Ascot carriage list was published at 12pm with Kate included (left), then a revised version was issued just after 12.30pm (right) when it was announced she would not attend The Princess released a personal message celebrating the life-changing work children's hospices do following her Ascot absence The Princess of Wales during her last visit to Royal Ascot which was on June 23, 2023 The Princess of Wales had been receiving chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February last year with the King beginning his cancer care earlier that month following his diagnosis after treatment for an enlarged prostate. Announcing in September her treatment had ended, Kate described in an emotional video message how the previous nine months had been 'incredibly tough for us as a family' and 'doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus'. William later said in a separate interview how 2024 had been 'brutal'. In January, following her visit to Royal Marsden, the princess said it was 'a relief' to be in remission and that she will 'remain focused' on recovery. Signing her note 'C', she said: 'There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.'
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Why you should think before overindulging this July 4
A new study published in Nature Medicine indicates that consuming processed meat and other foods significantly increases the risk of chronic conditions. These conditions include type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and colorectal cancer, which contribute to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. Even small daily amounts, such as one hot dog, are linked to an 11 per cent increased risk of type 2 diabetes and a 7 per cent increased risk of colorectal cancer. Sugar-sweetened beverages are also associated with an 8 per cent rise in type 2 diabetes risk and a 2 per cent rise in ischemic heart disease risk. Researchers suggest that nitrates, nitrites, and high sodium content in processed foods may be contributing factors to these adverse health outcomes.
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
My mum had chemotherapy to beat cancer but persuaded my sister not to do the same and now she's dead - I'll never forgive her and only have one hope for the future now
Gabriel Shemirani has claimed his mother had chemotherapy to beat cancer but persuaded his sister, who sadly passed away, not to do the same. Cambridge graduate Paloma Shemirani died in July last year aged 23 after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. Her mother, Kate Shemirani, is a notorious anti-vaxxer who was struck off the UK's nursing register in 2021 for her extreme anti-medicine views, including discouraging the use of masks and vaccines. Since Paloma's death, her two brothers Sebastian and Gabriel have claimed their sister refused conventional chemotherapy because of pressure from their mother. Gabriel appeared on Thursday's instalment of This Morning and sat down with co-hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard. He revealed that 'for as long as I can remember' conspiracy theories from his parents featured in his childhood. 'Me and my brother up to the age of 13 believed the royal family were shape-shifting lizards,' he admitted. 'Especially with my mum around the age of 12, it became the medical establishment is out to kill you, they're seeking to kill you, you can't touch them, you can't have vaccines, all vaccines are dangerous, every vaccine is going to kill you,' Gabriel added. 'My mum got cancer in 2012, she got conventional diagnosis, conventional surgery, the surgery was essentially what cured her.' After her experience with cancer, Kate's conspiracies 'accelerated'. 'If you're familiar with Mel Gibson or Jess Ainscough in Apple Cider Vinegar, I think my mum saw this as her opportunity to mould herself as a wellness therapist,' Gabriel explained. Gabriel thinks his mother 'believes some' of the theories but also tried to 'use it as an opportunity'. Around 2016 and 2017, Kate began to try to build an online following but she didn't take off until the pandemic. 'My sister started getting pains in her chest and her back around October 2023 and she was estranged from my mum at this point,' Gabriel recounted. Paloma had a 'conventional diagnosis' and was 'engaging with doctors and had scans'. 'Unfortunately on the 22nd December she got told in hospital that she had non-Hodgkin lymphoma which for a girl of her age with her prognosis, very high survival rate,' he added. 'I remember thinking, she'll do chemotherapy and she'll be fine. She was engaging with her doctors and she was actively weighing up her options but it was when she told my mum 'I've got cancer' that was when the control and coercion started. 'Before I knew it my sister had gone from not speaking to my mum to now she's removed from the hospital, doctors are stopped from contacting her and she's been coerced into doing this alternative therapy that my mum was advocating.' He added: 'My mother and father pressured her into not doing chemotherapy, either it was some of their associates feeding my sister misinformation regarding chemotherapy saying it will kill you or the survival rate isn't true. 'Or they were saying, our treatment is going to leave you fertile and it's 100% chance of survival.' Gabriel recalled how he was told on Christmas Eve by his sister's boyfriend that she had been discharged from hospital and was taking an alternative route. He said: 'I remember in that moment thinking 'Oh god, my sister is going to die if I don't do something as soon as possible'. I know my brother had a similar feeling as well.' Gabriel had expressed how he disagreed with his mum's treatment plan for Paloma and claims he was subsequently stopped from seeing her for the last seven months of her life. Cat asked: 'How do you feel about your mum now in respect to your sister?' Gabriel replied: 'It's my opinion that she sacrificed my sister on the altar of ideology for her own benefit, for her own public exposure. 'I have no feelings towards her. I think she should face justice, I'm determined for her to face justice.' Towards the end of the discussion, Ben said: 'We did reach out to Paloma's mum and dad, your parents, neither responded directly to the allegations but your mother has made unfounded allegations against the hospital and its staff. 'We've seen no evidence to substantiate these claims. The inquest is due to begin next month to establish the circumstances surrounding Paloma's death.' He asked: 'What are you hoping you get from the inquest?' Gabriel said: 'I'm hoping they establish the facts and they find the information that my sister died as a result of the rejection of treatment and as a result the non-Hodgkin lymphoma went untreated. 'For me, a definitive cause of death needs to be established first, before we can start talking about medical negligence and getting justice for my sister and a possible criminal case, it's definitely something I'm discussing with my lawyers.' He hopes to help 'save many other people' from being 'coerced' into alternative treatments. 'But also seeing if we can get the law changed to acknowledge medical coercion better with the online bill that's going through... right now legal but harmful is still allowed and I don't think that should be the case.'
