Mangaluru: Indian Hospital and its team of surgeons turned miracle workers for a 20-year-old girl who was told that her leg was to be amputated a few months ago. Fatima (name changed) belonging to Kannur in Kerala who was suffering from a recurring cancerous tumor on her left leg is now hopeful that she will lead a normal life.
Addressing a press meet at Indiana Hospital on February 3, eminent Cancer Surgeon Dr Jalaluddin Akbar said, “Fatima had the cancer removed from her leg a year ago but after it recurred, the only option was amputation (removal) of her leg, as suggested by hospitals and cancer research centers all over the district. She was unable to walk due to the tumor which was growing in her left leg. Finally she came to Indiana Hospital for treatment”.
The complex surgical procedure to remove the recurrent cancerous tumour and save the limb using mega prosthesis has been done for the first time in India. The team of surgeons included Orthopedic Surgeons Dr lmtiaz, Dr Abhishek and Anaesthetist Dr Vincent.
Dr Akbar further added, “When Fathima along with her family came to me, I initially put her on medication so as to shrink the tumor and facilitate the removal of the same. It was a complicated and long procedure that lasted for over 8 hours. Now the girl can lead a normal life with minimal disability”.
He also said that the people of Karnataka are very lucky to have medical facilities because of the able Health minister who has brought many health schemes for the BPL card holders.
“The patient is from Kannur and she does not have any medical schemes from the government and her parents have spent Rs 1.8 Lakh for her surgery. If there was a health scheme for her, the surgery would have been done free of cost”, he said.
Dr Imthiaz then spoke about the importance of the awareness of cancer and also about follow ups in cases like this. Adding to this, Dr Akbar said that the awareness of where such surgeries are performed is also important.
“They went through a long ordeal because of not knowing where to go. We want people to know that such complex surgeries are done in Mangaluru and that our city has one of the best centers for health care”, he said.
Dr Devanand Shetty, Dr Vincent, Dr Imtiaz and Bhasker Aras were also present.
