Save the lives of patients with respiratory failure and hemoptysis due to lung metastases from nasopharyngeal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

The article was written by MSc. Quach Thanh Dung - Department of Internal Oncology - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a malignant disease that originates from cells in the oropharynx, this is the most common cancer in head and neck cancers and ranks 4th among all cancers in the world. shared. In Vietnam, the rate of cervical cancer is 12%, of which 75% of patients are detected at a late stage, making treatment very difficult.

Sore throat, hoarseness, stuffy nose, headache, earache, sore throat...

In the case of a 28-year-old female patient from Ha Giang, in 2018 according to the program of the Benevolent Fund, the patient who came to Vinmec was examined and diagnosed with stage IVa and received chemotherapy and radiation treatment and then chemotherapy. The patient responded well, but the patient took a break from treatment.
In December 2019 (6 months later) the patient developed a moderate cough with sputum with fresh blood, severe chest pain, moderate shortness of breath, increased with exertion, headache, tinnitus, and decreased hearing.

The patient returned to Vinmec hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia, hemoptysis/K arches with lung metastasis on both sides, especially with a large tumor 16x9cm in the right lung invading the hilar mediastinum, blocking the middle lobe bronchial branch. and narrowing of the bronchial branches of the upper and lower lobes of the lungs, the risk of tumor rupture, hemoptysis, respiratory failure, severe prognosis can cause death at any time. The patient was treated with oxygen, antibiotics, hemostasis and salvage chemotherapy.

This is the time when the COVID-19 epidemic broke out in the world and also in Vietnam, the treatment of cancer patients was also affected by social distancing, reducing the number of medical staff, focusing resources on epidemic prevention...
However, with the best efforts of all medical staff in the Oncology Department of Vinmec hospital and with appropriate treatment, the patient's health has gradually recovered after 1 After months of intensive treatment, the patient's shortness of breath reduced, he stopped coughing blood, ate and slept well, gaining 2 kg. The patient then continued on maintenance chemotherapy. Currently, the patient no longer has difficulty breathing, does not cough blood, does not have a headache, reduces many of the arch symptoms such as: tinnitus, stuffy nose, hearing loss...
CT scan images of lung tumors, hilar nodes - mediastinum 2 sides greatly reduced in size and quantity.

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a common cancer in Vietnam, a dangerous disease with high malignancy but can be treated well if detected in time. Vinmec Hospital is a facility with a full range of equipment for diagnosis and modern treatment regimens with a team of leading domestic and foreign experts to help patients receive good advice, care and treatment. highest quality treatment.