A 26-year-old man named Herman Connor, also known as HC, presented to the emergency room with hematuria (urination of blood) and was diagnosed with Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC), a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer. HC's cancer was likely caused by his sickle cell trait, which he inherited from his African descent. Despite being young and not having a typical risk profile for cancer, HC's disease was advanced and had spread to his lungs.
Initially, HC faced challenges in getting proper care due to lack of insurance and misdiagnosis by his doctors, who thought he had an STD or HIV. However, after emailing Dr. Nizar Tannir, a specialist in RMC, HC was able to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, which included chemotherapy and surgery.
With the help of Dr. Tannir and his staff, HC was able to receive treatment despite not having insurance. After several cycles of chemotherapy and surgery, HC's cancer went into remission, and he was declared cancer-free at the 5-year mark. As of 2021, HC is one of the documented survivors of RMC, a rare and often fatal disease.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. HC, a 26-year-old man, presented to the emergency room with hematuria (urination of blood).
2. He had been experiencing a tickle sensation in his back that developed into a pain radiating down his legs over several months.
3. HC did not have health insurance due to being unemployed and working part-time jobs.
4. He was diagnosed with cancer in the emergency room, which is unusual because cancer is typically diagnosed at an earlier stage.
5. The emergency room doctor suspected HC had Renal Medullary Carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer, based on his demographics.
6. HC has sickle cell trait, a mutation in the DNA that affects hemoglobin production.
7. Sickle cell trait is different from sickle cell disease, and people with sickle cell trait are not typically affected by the condition.
8. However, people with sickle cell trait can experience damage to their kidneys due to the abnormal hemoglobin.
9. HC's cancer was likely caused by his sickle cell trait and was growing in his right kidney.
10. The cancer had spread to his lungs and was causing a worsening cough.
11. HC was initially misdiagnosed with HIV and a urinary tract infection by a doctor, despite not having any symptoms of these conditions.
12. HC was eventually diagnosed with Renal Medullary Carcinoma by a doctor at a hospital in Texas.
13. The doctor, Dr. Nizar Tannir, recommended chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove the cancerous kidney.
14. HC underwent 5 cycles of chemotherapy, which shrunk the tumor and made it undetectable on scans.
15. HC had his right kidney removed and was continued on different medicines and chemotherapy.
16. After 2 years, HC was declared cancer-free, and at the 5-year mark, he was still in remission.
17. As of 2021, HC is one of the documented survivors of Renal Medullary Carcinoma, a rare type of kidney cancer.