This man was teased for his "beer belly". It turned out to be a 77-pound cancerous tumor

But he weighed 77 pounds, according to his surgeon.

Hernandez said that he did not know how to feel about the tumor nor about the surgical procedure necessary to remove it.

At first, he said, he was "shocked" and "confused" but also relieved to finally know what was wrong.

"I had a lot of support and prayers from my family and friends," he said, pointing out that they were raising money to help her recover . "I finally left it in the hands of God."

Hernandez surgeon William Tseng, an oncologist and badistant professor at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, said that liposarcomas were developing over time and could reach enormous heights, although they were not overweight. they do not tend to spread or cause major problems. Tseng, a sarcoma specialist, said that throughout his career, he had surgically removed dozens of them, weighing an average of 20 to 30 pounds.

"It's probably the biggest that I've removed," he told the Post, speaking of Hernandez's tumor.

In the summer, Tseng removed the tumor that, according to him, had spared the main blood vessels and most organs of Hernandez, although he had to cut a kidney that had been damaged. Tseng said that bleeding is the biggest risk badociated with surgery and that patients may die on the operation table, but that there has been no complication in the case of ## 147 ## 39; Hernandez.

The surgeon said that Hernandez would not need to undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy, but since liposarcomas often come back, Hernandez must periodically undergo follow-up exams to monitor the situation.

"I was really lucky," said Hernandez.

Now, Hernandez said that he felt "totally different" – more energetic and many, many lighter books.