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Miracle surgery: Doctors in rural hospital operate on cancer patient turned away by Kolkata hospitals

“But it was a tough surgery. Several precautions had to be taken in consultation with different experts of Tata Cancer Hospital and our professor Dr Satadal Saha. We finally did it successfully”, said Dr Souvik Das.


Biswabrata Goswami

Statesman News Service

MIDNAPORE, 29 APRIL: Amidst lockdown, four doctors in a rural hospital in Junglemahal successfully operated upon a 65-year-old cancer patient who had been turned away by state hospitals in Kolkata as the latter are dealing with a cascading outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

With her condition deteriorating fast and cancer cells spreading in her abdomen, Pataspur’s Uma Rani Jana was given only a few months to live. Doctors said if she was not operated within days, her condition would be worse.

Turned away by at least three hospitals in Kolkata, her family members had gone to a prominent private hospital where the hospital authorities claimed Rs 5 lakh for only operation purpose before them.

Shocked on hearing the huge cost required for only operation, the family members came back to their house and finally decided to admit her in the Salboni super facility hospital in West Midnapore, a part of Junglemahal in West Bengal.

As her condition was deteriorating fast, the medical head of the hospital Dr Arka Das formed a three-member medical board along with Dr Souvik Das and Dr Barun Mandi. The board members also consulted with Tata Cancer Hospital for necessary suggestion and they finally decided to conduct an operation.

Accordingly, on 25 April, the three doctors with the consultation of Dr Satadal Saha, project director, Dr B C Roy Super Specialty Hospital and IIT, KGP professor started operation at around 10 am and they successfully completed it within 2.30 hours.

It is for the first time, a super facility hospital in rural area of Junglemahal successfully operated upon a cancer patient within its limited facilities and resources.

Umarani’s cancer at her uterus was detected barely one month ago. Since then, she underwent chemotherapy sessions. Umarani has not only survived, but doctors at the hospital say she is now safe for years. Umarani, whose cancer-ridden uterus, ovary and other allied organs were removed during the surgery, is now being given supportive treatment.

“It has been nothing short of a miracle. My mother was inching towards death and we became hapless to watch her condition. We had no lakhs of money to expense, but we didn’t leave her to die. So, we decided to admit her in the super facility hospital where the doctors have pulled off a miracle”, said Ujjal Jana, who also works in the hospital.  

“It has been nothing short of a miracle. My mother was inching towards death and we became hapless to watch her condition. We had no lakhs of money to expense, but we didn’t leave her to die. So, we decided to admit her in the super facility hospital where the doctors have pulled off a miracle”, said Ujjal Jana, who also works in the hospital.  

“But it was a tough surgery. Several precautions had to be taken in consultation with different experts of Tata Cancer Hospital and our professor Dr Satadal Saha. We finally did it successfully”, said Dr Souvik Das.

When asked Dr Saha said, “It is a major and complex surgery. The patient had external spread of the tumor which may affect the rectum, bladder and ureter. But, the doctors had taken all precautionary measures while before going to conduct the surgery”.