Ndola Teaching Hospital Removes 845-Gram Tumor, Transforms Life of Chingola Barber

After months of isolation and distress, 33-year-old Peter Katontoka, a barber from Chingola, has found a new lease on life following a successful and complex facial tumor removal at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH). 

The 845-gram mass, which began as a small mole in May 2024, grew rapidly and drastically affected Peter’s self-esteem, business, and daily life—forcing him to wrap his head in cloth to avoid stares.

Thanks to a collaborative medical team led by Dr. Lufunda Lukama, Head of ENT at NTH, the tumor was successfully removed through a wide local superficial parotidectomy—a delicate procedure that preserved Peter’s facial nerves and expressions. 

The operation was carried out with support from specialists across disciplines, including maxillofacial and general surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and skilled scrub nurses.

“I feel like I have been given a second chance,” Peter said, expressing gratitude to the government and the medical team. “Now I can look in the mirror and smile without fear.”

Peter’s story gained attention after a relative reached out to ZNBC, leading to swift intervention from the Copperbelt Provincial Health Office. NTH’s Public Relations Department confirmed that full patient consent was granted before publication.