Sangam Pandey’s tryst with Cancer

Background: 17-year-old Sangam Pandey studies in Standard X in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. She lives there with her grandparents while her own family including her father, Yogendra Pandey (40 years) who is a farmer, her housewife mother Munni (34) and six younger siblings live in another house. The sweet and beautiful Sangam used to lead a happy life spending her vacations with her parents. Things took a sudden downward turn when she suffered from acute pain in her right leg during her vacation in July 2011. Her mother’s home remedy did not work and the swelling in her right knee increased day by day.

The detection: Sangam was taken for a checkup to Ambedkar Hospital, Gorakhpur where the doctor did some tests and biopsy. She was operated upon and advised complete bed rest for two months. Even after following the doctor’s instructions for two months after surgery, Sangam could neither sit nor walk properly, as her knee refused to bend. The doctor at Ambedkar Hospital referred her to KJMS Medical College at Lucknow. On further investigation, it was discovered that Sangam was suffering from the dreadful Osteosarcoma (bone cancer). By now, her family had already spent one Lac rupees for Sangam’s treatment. Unable to afford more, her father decided to discontinue treatment. Fortunately for the young lady, her uncle decided to take her to Mumbai for further treatment.

Treatment process: It was an extremely challenging time for Sangam and her uncle as they knew no one in Mumbai. They neither had a job nor a place to stay. A biopsy and CT scan were conducted at Bombay Hospital. After that, she was referred to Holy Spirit Hospital for treatment. Oncologist Dr. Nirmal Raut told them that she required 9 chemo cycles and the estimated cost was Rs. 2,25,000/-. The shocked uncle decided to take his niece back home as he could not afford the treatment.

To know what happened to Sangam, log on to the blog this week.