A Paris-based lawyer noticed a concerning lump on his back in March 2023. Pierre-Henri Bovis described first spotting the growth as “like a small bump appearing, a bit red, a bit warm.” Initially unconcerned, he shared his observation with a friend, radiologist Sophie-Hélène Zaimi, during dinner. “As soon as I saw this bump, I thought, ‘Oh dear, that’s not good, I don’t like how it’s evolving,’” Dr. Zaimi recalled, emphasizing the necessitate for prompt medical imaging.
The subsequent examination heightened the alarm. Bovis remembers, “When the doctor did the ultrasound, I saw her face change over the seconds, minutes… She told me, ‘Listen, it looks quite cancerous, your story.’” Despite this initial medical opinion, Bovis traveled to Africa for a business trip. However, while abroad, the mass rapidly increased in size, accompanied by intensifying pain and fever.
“I had such a prominent bulge on my back that my jacket, which is a tailored jacket, wouldn’t close anymore,” he explained. This development underscores the importance of following up on potentially serious health concerns promptly. Back in Paris, a series of tests were conducted. Specialists convened for a multidisciplinary consultation, known as an “RCP sarcome”. Dr. Zaimi explained that sarcomas are rare mesenchymal tumors, representing just 1% of adult cancers. “These are types of cancers with poor prognoses that evolve particularly quickly and are very aggressive,” she said.
For Dr. Zaimi, the situation was particularly stressful: “This is the first time I’ve found myself in a situation where a friend has something potentially serious and potentially life-threatening.” The anxiety surrounding the uncertainty of the diagnosis was significant. Finally, the day for the biopsy arrived. Bovis lay on the examination table, surrounded by the doctor and her assistant, the atmosphere tense as everyone held their breath. “When he punctures, you have to realize that in my back, I have something that looks like an apple,” Bovis recounted. The doctor inserted the needle, carefully observing… and a completely different diagnosis emerged.
To discover the rest of this story, listen to the new episode of “Symptômes” on RTL.fr, the RTL application and all podcast platforms.
