Medical first: Man dies from cancer spread from parasitic WORM growing in his organs
A MAN has died after a parasitic worm that had found its way into his body began growing cancerous cells inside his organs.
Doctors were left puzzled by the 41-year-old victim’s symptoms
Doctors were left puzzled by the 41-year-old victim's symptoms, as the deadly cells were just a tenth of the size of normal cells and were clearly not human.
But they grew and spread into his lungs as his body had been weakened by the HIV virus, meaning he could not stop the growth of the parasite like a healthy immune system would.
Medics have now hailed the Colombian man as a medical first, with the pathologist describing it as a "very unusual, very unique illness".
Sadly, he died just 72 hours after the cause of the cancer was discovered.
The cancerous cells were traced back to a dwarf tapeworm - Hymenolepis nana - which leaves thousands of eggs inside the body of its host each day.
Most healthy people who have the bacteria can fight off any illness with their immune system.
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said that the best way to prevent infection was by washing your hands and cooking raw vegetables.
Dr Atis Muehlenbachs, a CDC pathologist, and lead author of the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, said: "We were amazed when we found this new type of disease - tapeworms growing inside a person essentially getting cancer that spreads to the person, causing tumours."
This tapeworm is found worldwide and millions of people globally suffer from conditions like HIV that weaken their immune system
"We think this type of event is rare.
"However, this tapeworm is found worldwide and millions of people globally suffer from conditions like HIV that weaken their immune system.
"So there may be more cases that are unrecognised. It's definitely an area that deserves more study."
Medics have now hailed the Colombian man as a medical first
The cancerous cells were traced back to a dwarf tapeworm