In Moscow they said he 'won't survive'... a second life in Turkey
Magomed Saidakhedov, who was given HIV-infected blood while receiving cancer treatment in Dagestan, was told in Moscow — where he had gone for treatment — that "there is nothing to be done." Turning to Turkey, Saidakhedov beat his cancer as a result of the treatment applied here and gained a second life.
About two years ago, Magomed Saidakhedov from Dagestan went to a doctor after feeling a pain in his lip and learned he had head and neck cancer. It was still stage two, and treatment began immediately. The treatment he received in his country was going well. But another bad surprise awaited him: it emerged that Saidakhedov — married and a father of five — had been given HIV-infected blood. This time the cancer treatment was interrupted and HIV treatment began. Matters became intractable, and the cancer progressed. He went to Moscow, but was told "there is nothing to be done." "I went home and prayed," said Saidakhedov; the next day his uncle came with a new treatment proposal, saying, "We need to take you abroad." For Saidakhedov, who worked in construction, the family pooled money among themselves. They turned to Turkey. Genetic tests were carried out here. Specialists gathered and debated the question: "How can we treat both HIV and cancer at the same time?" A ray of hope emerged. The patient, who had been brought in as someone who "could die at any moment," left Turkey with his tumour completely cleared and was reunited with his children.
"We mapped out its genetics"
Medical oncologist Prof. Dr. Mutlu Demiray, who said the tumour was very advanced and risky when the patient arrived, explained: "We informed the family that 'we could lose the patient at any moment.' We carried out detailed tests to understand the tumour's genetics and decided on the treatment accordingly. We are concerned not with which organ the tumour is in, but with what kind of tumour it is. We mapped out the tumour's genetics and applied treatment accordingly. Just as every person's genetic makeup is different, so is the genetic makeup of their tumour. With this patient too, we asked the family for 15 days, drew up a plan, and then began treatment. Right now, in all tests, the tumour has been completely cleared."
"My family pooled money"
Magomed Saidakhedov described what he went through: "When I first learned I had cancer, a strange feeling came over me. It was as if my feet were in mid-air. At first I received radiotherapy in my country. For about 2-3 months everything was fine. Then my face began to swell and I went to Moscow. There they told me I had been infected with HIV and that I had to be treated for HIV before the cancer. So I began HIV treatment. But I did not feel well. Then I decided to be treated abroad. My family pooled money for me and sent me to Turkey. When I came to Turkey I was relieved, because in Russia no one would take ownership of my treatment. Now I am well. From now on I will continue my life from where I left off, like normal people."