A 65-year-old man from Kirov, Russia, has undergone life-changing surgery to remove a massive tumor from his neck—after living with the growth for 16 years and relying on failed home remedies in hopes it would disappear on its own.
The tumor, which had grown to the size of the man’s head, had become a heavy burden at the base of his neck. Doctors at the Kirov Regional Clinical Hospital were reportedly stunned when he revealed that he had been treating the lump with nothing more than over-the-counter ointments.
“Usually, such tumors grow slowly and painfully, which leads many patients to delay seeing a specialist, hoping the growth will resolve on its own,” said Dr. Igor Popyrin, head of the hospital’s surgical department, in an interview with local news outlet Izvestia.
Doctors diagnosed the growth as a benign lipoma—a fatty tumor that typically develops between the skin and muscle tissue. While most lipomas are small, soft, and harmless, they can occasionally grow to extreme sizes or become complicated, especially if located near critical body structures.
According to Dr. Popyrin, “If a lipoma continues to grow, no ointments or folk remedies will help. Surgical removal is the only effective treatment.”
In this case, the tumor posed additional risks due to its proximity to major blood vessels and nerves, including the cervical plexus, which connects directly to the spinal cord. The operation required extreme precision. Surgeons had to carefully estimate the man’s actual neck shape without the tumor, and he was positioned on his side throughout the procedure, as lying on his back would have been dangerous.
Fortunately, the complex surgery was successful, and the man is now recovering. His case serves as a dramatic reminder of the importance of seeking medical advice rather than relying on self-treatment—especially for persistent or growing masses.