The condition of Xiaobinbin has caused great concern among his parents. After the surgery, Xiaobinbin's body is very weak.
Reported by Liang Rui of Jingbao / Text and Lan Jun / Photo
While many families were enjoying the happiness of the National Day holiday, one-year-old Binbin and his parents had to face a cruel reality - Binbin was diagnosed with testicular tumor, which usually occurs in adult men. According to the doctor, this malignant tumor is a type of testicular cancer and is relatively rare.
One-Year-Old Boy Suffers from Tumor, Left Testicle Removed
When we met little Binbin lying in his mother's arms at the pediatric department of Henggang Baoxing Hospital, he kept calling out "Mommy, Mommy." Mr. Liu, Binbin's father, told reporters that after Binbin stopped breastfeeding at the age of one, he often had fevers, became thinner, and his left testicle grew larger day by day, swelling up like a quail egg. "At first, I thought it might be an inguinal hernia," Mr. Liu said. However, over time, the swelling in Xiaobinbin's left testicle did not subside but instead grew bigger, making the couple extremely worried.
Since both Mr. Liu and his wife worked in Shenzhen and had little savings, they decided to save money by returning to their hometown in Hunan for treatment. At a town hospital in Xiangtan, the examination results shocked the couple - it was suspected to be a testicular tumor, and the doctor advised them to transfer hospitals immediately. Subsequently, the couple took their child to Xiangtan County Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Tests revealed that Xiaobinbin's serum alpha-fetoprotein level was as high as 185.4 micrograms per liter, while normal levels are below 20 micrograms per liter. The doctor stated that elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels might be associated with germ cell tumors.
The couple then took their child to several large hospitals in Changsha, but none of these hospitals had encountered such a case before. After confirmation by the Provincial Children's Hospital and Xiangya Hospital, it was determined that Binbin had an embryonal sinus tumor in his left testicle. This is a type of malignant tumor and one form of testicular cancer. Once it develops, if not controlled in time, it could potentially endanger life. On June 24th of this year, Binbin's left testicle had to be surgically removed. Post-surgery measurements showed that the excised mass measured 2 cm x 4.5 cm, resembling a quail egg and reaching the size of an adult male's testicle.
Tumor Spreads, Small Family Faces Difficulties
The surgery plunged the already economically strained family into heavy debt. They thought that after the surgery, they could finally live a stable life. However, just as the National Day holiday began, Binbin started coughing uncontrollably again. The couple brought Binbin to Henggang Baoxing Hospital, where tests revealed a large shadow in Binbin's lungs. A preliminary diagnosis indicated that the malignant tumor had spread. With no money left, the couple was almost on the verge of collapse. "We come from a rural area, and we've borrowed all we can from everyone we know. Relatives and friends have done what they can, but we really have no way out. We don't have the money to continue treating our child, but when he calls me 'Mom' every day, I feel so heartbroken," Binbin's mother said.
Just as they were about to give up on treatment and return home directly, the doctors at Baoxing Hospital persuaded them to stay. "The doctor said not to worry about the money right now; treating the illness is the most important thing," Mr. Liu reported. Currently, the daily costs in the hospital amount to hundreds or even thousands of yuan, yet the hospital has charged them almost nothing and even provided free accommodation and food. The nurses have also generously contributed to help them. Yesterday, several women from Longgang donated several thousand yuan to them. "We don't even know their names," Mr. Liu said.
Doctors Hope Experts Can Pay Attention
"Xiaobinbin has just learned how to speak and can call 'Daddy' and 'Mommy,'" Mr. Liu said. Now, the couple hopes most to prolong his life, living one more day at a time. However, after visiting hospitals in Hunan, Hubei, and Guangdong, they still haven't found a satisfactory treatment plan.
According to Dr. Xie Xiaohong, head of the pediatric department at the hospital, the malignant tumor Xiaobinbin suffers from is extremely rare and there are no effective treatments available. There hasn't been any follow-up on a previous similar case.
It is understood that Xiaobinbin's current physical condition is very weak, he is extremely thin, and eats very little. If an effective treatment plan cannot be formulated soon, there will be a risk to his life, Dr. Xie said, "The help from the hospital alone is far from enough. We hope experts in society can provide more assistance to Xiaobinbin."