HC, a 26-year-old man, presented to the emergency room with blood in his urine and a painful sensation in his back that had developed over months. Initially dismissing the symptoms as minor issues, HC's condition worsened, leading to the discovery of renal medullary carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. Despite challenges with healthcare access and misdiagnoses, HC sought treatment from a specialist in Texas. After undergoing chemotherapy and surgery, HC's cancer went into remission. His journey highlights the importance of persistence and advocacy in facing serious health conditions.
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. HC had been experiencing a tickle sensation in his back that developed into a pain radiating down his legs over several months.
3. HC was born in the middle 1980s and graduated from college in 2008.
4. HC did not have health insurance due to his part-time job.
5. HC's family had a history of being healthy, with his dad being ex-military.
6. HC's symptoms worsened over time, including a persistent cough and blood in his urine.
7. HC was diagnosed with cancer in his right kidney.
8. The cancer was later identified as renal medullary carcinoma (RMC).
9. HC had sickle cell trait, which may have contributed to his cancer diagnosis.
10. HC's doctor initially thought he had an STD or a urinary tract infection, despite no evidence of infection.
11. HC's doctor did not test him for HIV, but believed he had it.
12. HC was told he had to wait five months for an MRI, despite his late-stage cancer diagnosis.
13. HC contacted a doctor in Texas who specialized in RMC and was told to come for treatment.
14. HC started chemotherapy and had his cancerous kidney removed.
15. HC's cancer had spread to his lungs, but chemotherapy helped shrink the tumor.
16. HC's family supported him throughout his treatment.
17. After five cycles of chemotherapy, the cancer was no longer visible on scans.
18. HC underwent surgery to remove his right kidney.
19. HC participated in a clinical trial for a new medication to treat RMC.
20. HC's cancer went into remission, and he was declared cancer-free at the five-year mark.
21. As of 2021, HC has been cancer-free for almost 10 years and is one of the documented survivors of RMC.