LI Man Thanks Surgical Team That Removed 5-Pound Tumor, Saved His Life

BAY SHORE, NY — A Central Islip man has a new lease on life: Margarito Banos, 43, was headed to hospice care before a risky surgery at South Shore University Hospital. Banos, a father of four, visited the team who helped his extend his life on Thursday, thanking them for the second chance.

In March, Banos had a tumor on his liver that weighed five pounds, and that was so large it was affecting his heart function. After chemotherapy failed to shrink the cancerous tumor, a difficult decision to operate was made.

“This tumor was slowly killing him,” Gary Deutsch, MD, the surgical oncologist who operated on Banos said during Thursday's reunion and news conference.

“We had a very honest discussion with each other about considering a heroic attempt to get this tumor out and he wanted to live, so we nursed him back to a state where he could tolerate the surgery, and we went to the operating room.”

The eight-hour surgery saved Banos' life, but he lost 70 percent of his liver and he must undergo heart valve surgery as well.

But Banos remains grateful.

“From the day I found out I had the tumor, my life changed forever,” he said on Thursday. “Dr. Deutsch saved my life. I feel completely different now. I am very happy to be alive.”