Vietnamese-American diagnosed with cancer in Ho Chi Minh City after month-long colonoscopy delay in US

He said he had noticed changes in his bowel habits for a while, with frequent trips to the bathroom and blood in his stool.

He registered for a check-up in the U.S. but had an unconscionably long waiting time before his turn.

Then, during a recent trip to Vietnam to visit his family, he underwent a colonoscopy at Thu Duc General in Ho Chi Minh City where doctors discovered a large tumor in his colon.

Speaking to VnExpress last Saturday, Dr Nguyen Minh Ly from the hospital said the colonoscopy revealed a large tumor in the sigmoid colon, fully occupying the rectal lumen.

Tests confirmed it was malignant and surgery was required urgently.

The patient underwent cardiovascular evaluation and nutritional support in preparation for the surgery.

Doctors adopted the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol that eschews preoperative laxatives.

The protocol, developed by the ERAS Society, a multidisciplinary organization based in Europe, is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to post-surgical care that aims to speed up a patient's recovery by minimizing the physiological and psychological stress of an operation.

The surgery lasted two hours and 40 minutes, during which the surgeons removed the segment of the colon containing the tumor and performed lymph node dissection.

Postoperative pathology confirmed it was a grade 2 adenocarcinoma of the colon, which had invaded the muscle and subserosal fat layers.

The patient recovered quickly after the surgery, was able to move and perform breathing exercises from the first day, and resumed eating on the second.

He was discharged six days later in stable condition and with no complications, a well-healed incision and normal daily functions restored.

The patient, whose asked to remain unidentified, said he had registered and waited for over a month in the U.S. without managing to get a colonoscopy.

"During my visit home I got a check-up and was fortunate to have the disease detected and treated in time."

Doctor Ly said early detection and treatment of colon tumors are critical for prognosis.

Without timely intervention, tumors can grow, causing intestinal obstruction, ulcers, bleeding, metastasis, and life-threatening complications.