A man was left unable to wear normal clothes or see friends after a huge lump grew on his neck.
The 29-year-old was rushed to hospital with a shocking mass protruding from the back of his neck.
Doctors later confirmed he had a lipoma – a slow-growing, non-cancerous fatty tumour found between the skin and muscle.
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But medics say his case was extremely rare.
Lipomas are usually smaller than 10cm and are seldom found at the back of the neck.
But this one grew to a staggering 25kg (four stone).
The unnamed patient said the condition turned his life upside down.
“I loved my social life and enjoyed working on my farm but as the swelling on my neck and back grew larger, I stopped attending social gatherings and even stopped enjoying them altogether,” he told Need To Know.
“I hated going to the farm, and I couldn’t wear the clothes I liked because of the swelling.
“I even started to avoid foods.
“I felt so depressed and gave up on everything.”
The lump first appeared as a small, painless swelling and was roughly the size of a lemon.
But over three years, it continued to grow, eventually interfering with his daily life and work on the farm.
As it worsened, the man became socially withdrawn, lost his appetite and suffered significant weight loss.
A month before diagnosis, the mass developed an ulcer.
He was initially treated with antibiotics, but told surgery was not an option.
Financial difficulties meant he couldn’t seek further help until he was admitted to hospital in a severely malnourished state.
Scans and a biopsy confirmed the mass was a benign adipocytic lesion – a non-cancerous tumour made up of fat cells.
Surgeons carried out a “meticulous” operation to remove the enormous growth.
Just four days later, the patient was discharged.
He said: “Now, I feel like I’ve gotten my old self back.
“I can enjoy my farm activities again, actively participate in social and community events, and wear the clothes I love – clothes I haven’t worn in years.
“I’m truly grateful to the physicians and healthcare workers who helped me.”
Doctors say he has made a full recovery and has returned to farming, regaining both his health and confidence.
The man was treated in Northern Gondar, Ethiopia.
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