Against the odds, Mehsana teen walks towards recovery

Vadodara: A 16-year-old girl from Kukarvada village in Mehsana district overcame advanced bone cancer after doctors at Shree Krishna Hospital in Karamsad performed a complex limb-salvage surgery that saved her right leg.What began as severe pain in her leg soon led to a life-changing diagnosis of osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer. The teenager, who had recently cleared her Class 11 exams, comes from a financially weak family dependent on her father’s small timber business.After initial consultations at local hospitals and a cancer centre in Ahmedabad, the family was told that chemotherapy, surgery and orthopaedic reconstruction would need to be carried out at different hospitals. The prospect was both emotionally draining and financially daunting.A turning point came when the family approached Shree Krishna Hospital in Karamsad, where a multidisciplinary team agreed to take up the challenging case. Doctors said the cancer was advanced and needed careful planning.“More than the rarity of the disease, it was an advanced case of osteosarcoma where major arteries were extremely close to the affected tissue, making the surgery highly challenging,” said Dr Dhruv Sharma, head of the orthopaedics department.Surgical oncologist Dr Raghunandan G C said the tumour had grown to nearly 15cm by 10cm. After chemotherapy by medical oncologist Dr Nirav Asarawala helped shrink the tumour, surgeons moved ahead with a limb-salvage procedure aimed at removing the cancer without amputation.During the long operation, vascular surgeon Dr Jayesh Patel carefully separated the tumour from major blood vessels to preserve the limb. The orthopaedic team then reconstructed the area around the knee using a prosthetic implant to restore stability and movement. Anaesthetist Dr Madhavi Chaudhari provided perioperative support throughout the surgery.Doctors said the teenager is recovering well and is expected to regain improved mobility with rehabilitation and physiotherapy.The entire treatment was carried out under the Ayushman Yojana scheme, easing the financial burden on the family of five and allowing them to focus on recovery and the road ahead.