Survivor of only two known cases of hand cancer in the world is studying at Virginia Tech
An inspiring story about one boy's cancer journey, as he searched around the world seeking a better prognosis. Finding this in Bologna, Italy and undertaking a relatively new and experimental surgery on his malignant hand cancer.
BOLOGNA, Italy., 2013. - Hand Tumour: An image of Ahmad's right hand shortly after his diagnosis. Photograph courtesy of Ahmad Ibrahim.
Imagine you're diagnosed with a cancerous tumour and you are told you will have to lose your dominant right hand to survive. This became the reality for a 17 year old Ahmad Ibrahim when he was one of just two cases around the world to be diagnosed with hand cancer.
At the age of 17, Ahmad woke up one morning and noticed a developing lump on the palm of his right hand. Similar to most teenagers he dismissed it, and took some anti-inflammatory medication in hope of controlling the swelling and continued on with his school day in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
After leaving it for just a week the lump had almost doubled in size, thankfully his younger brother, Youseph, was due for a check up at the doctor's and Ahmad tagged along too. His local doctor took one look and assumed it was a infected node and took a sample to confirm his prognosis. Unfortunately the results didn't match the diagnosis and he was sent for further testing using MRI's and CT Scans.
With all the evidence it was clear, he had a mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, or a malignant tumour, in his hand and it would have to be removed immediately. The doctor referred him to a surgeon but he only provided Ahmad with one solution, to remove his right hand completely.
BLACKSBURG, Va., March 20, 2016. - Today: Ahmad holds up his cancer free hand in his room in Graduate Life Centre on campus at Virginia Tech. Photograph courtesy of Isobel Cootes.
Unsatisfied with the diagnosis, his family searched around the world for a doctor who believed they could remove the tumour without taking his hand. They found hope in an Italian Hand Specialist, Doctor Marco Manfrini. He was surprised at the diagnosis and conducted his own tests to confirm that the UAE doctors were indeed correct. Dr Manfrini was shocked, having only known one other case in the world like Ahmads.
Dr Manfrini was uncertain if he would have to take a few fingers in the process but thankfully Ahmed woke after twenty four hours of surgery to his right hand intact and a cancer free life ahead. Some five days after returning to the UAE and he was sitting his finals and continuing his adolescent life. Thankfully some years later and his cancer free life has seen him travelling and eating his way around the world, all the way to Blacksburg, Virginia where he is studying as an exchange student this semester at Virginia Tech.
