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Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Jan 3: “Department of Surgical Oncology at Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal has been performing complex cancer surgeries, which are performed only in few reputed cancer centers in India" said Dr Naveena Kumar A N, associate professor and head of department of Surgical Oncology.
Addressing a press meet held to highlight the recent complex cancer surgeries performed by Kasturba Hospital doctors he said, "Tracheal (windpipe) cancer surgery is one of the most complex procedures to perform, where tumor is removed along with the part of the windpipe and the remaining windpipe is connected to the lower part or branches (main bronchus). Cancer in the windpipe causes blockage and difficulty in breathing. The surgery usually lifesaving and cure for the cancer. The department of Surgical Oncology has performed such major tracheobronchial (windpipe) surgery on four cancer patients including a 70-year-old patient, who is on regular follow-up for 9 months. There were two major surgeries performed for football-sized cancer mass inside the chest which was compressing the heart, major blood vessels, lung and windpipe. One of the patients was a 15-year-old boy, where a 3 kg tumor was involving the entire chest bone (sternum) and the left side of the chest. The entire tumor was removed and the chest bone was reconstructed with artificial bone during 10 hrs of surgery. He is currently on follow up for five months. Another 15-year old girl was operated for a large bleeding tumor involving the neck. During 14 hours of surgery, a 5 kg tumor was removed and covered with plastic surgery, and currently, she is on a regular checkup,” said Dr Naveena, who performed the surgery.
"The thoracoscopic and laparoscopic (keyhole) cancer surgery is routinely performed for cancer of the lung, food pipe (Esophagus), stomach, large and terminal intestine, uterus, and kidney. Recently, the department has performed single scar lung cancer surgery. A 25-year-old patient with food pipe cancer and previously operated stomach was treated with keyhole surgery and reconstructed with a complex procedure using intestine, is on regular follow up for 1.5 years. The department is performing HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) surgeries for advanced, stage 4 cancer of stomach, large and terminal intestine and ovarian cancer. Limb saving surgery for cancer of lower limbs are performed in the department. A 13-year-old girl was operated for cancer of thigh bone, where cancer part of the bone was removed and sent for high dose radiotherapy and re-fixed to the thigh bone of the patient (Extracorporeal radiotherapy). Currently, she is doing well after 1.5 years of follow-up. Another 50-year-old lady was operated for cancer of pelvic bone involving sacro-iliac joint (Joining back and thigh), where the tumor was removed completely along with main sacro-iliac joint (Internal hemipelvectomy Type 4). After 1.5 years of follow up patient is doing well,” he added.
Speaking about the center’s treatment activities during Covid situation, Dr Naveena said, "With the support from the hospital administration, we never closed our cancer block. Every day, there was OPD. In the four months of Covid 19 pandemic, we have performed more than 280 major cancer surgeries. Cancer care was never stopped. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and all other treatments were provided to the patients. Initially the Covid testing, isolation and alternate morality were also performed for the patients. There was a fear about Covid. Initially, we did not take up any major cases as Covid was said to be infecting to lungs very quickly. Gradually we took up. Surgically, there were no extra challenges to perform the treatment.”
Speaking about the death due to Covid of cancer patients, Dr Naveena said, "Most of the times they were co-incidental deaths. In some cases, even if the patient was not infected of Covid, there were possibilities of mortality. In the patient's body, the immunity power will be low and they will be under high risk. Hence, when they get infected with Covid, multiple factors affect them other than only Covid.”
Dr Naveen S Salins, coordinator of Manipal Comprehensive Care Center (MCCC), congratulated the team for great work and said, “With efficient team of surgeons, anesthetists, sisters and support of hospital administration, we could perform these surgeries. In treating every cancer patient, major team work is involved. It starts with early identification and accurate diagnosis. Comprehensive treatment is the key. A team decides the treatment of the patient. In cancer, the first treatment is the best treatment. There are only two comprehensive cancer care centres in Karnataka in which one is situated at Kasturba Hospital Manipal.”
Dr Padmaraj Hegde, deputy medical superintendent, congratulated the surgical oncology team and said, “This kind of complex surgeries are possible at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, due to the team of expert doctors. Currently, the department of Surgical Oncology at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, performs all major and supra-major cancer surgeries equivalent to reputed national and international cancer centers and it gives new hopes to cancer patients of coastal and middle Karnataka.”
Dr Karthik Udupa, Dr Sumit S Malapure, Dr Vadudeva Bhat, Dr Nawaz Usman, Dr Keshavarajan, Sudhakar Prabhu, marketing head Sachin Karanth and others were present.
The team of cancer surgery is led by Dr Naveena Kumar A N and includes Dr Nawaz Usman, Dr Keshava Rajan and Dr Preethi Shetty, who are trained from the prestigious Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.