New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS): A rare surgery at Max Super Speciality Hospital here has brought relief to a 70-year-old Nigerian woman who was diagnosed by doctors in her country with an "inoperable" thyroid cancer.

Aysha Mohammed's struggle with thyroid cancer began 13 years ago when she had a complete thyroid gland removed. Five years later, she fought her second battle with the disease which was treated.

Her agony, however, did not stop there as a small lump appeared again in 2012.

Steeling herself for another surgical ordeal, Mohammed got a rude shock when her doctors informed her that the lump was inoperable.

Mohammed did not lose heart and decided to try her luck in New Delhi, and consulted doctors at a hospital in Shalimar Bagh.

Her consulting expert Vivek Gupta, a doctor at Max Super Speciality Hospital, informed her and her family that the surgery of the tumour carried the risk of extensive bleeding.

It could also lead to loss of blood supply to the brain on the left side, that could result in in half-paralysis, and permanent tracheostomy due to weakening of the wind pipe resulting from persistent pressure on the large tumour, a statement from the hospital said.

Gupta and his team meticulously resected the tumour in June this year, putting an end to Mohammed's ordeal. Her bleeding was kept in check.

Mohammed, who had lost tremendous amounts of weight, was in constant pain for almost three years. Today, she is back in Nigeria.