City docs give German a cancer-free birthday

Online, May 5, 2010 (Newswire.com) - "I was told by doctors in Germany and France that surgery was not possible as my tumour did not respond to radiation, chemotherapy and was not shrinking. I did not accept that as the final judgement and contacted Dr. Rajendra Toprani in Ahmendabad who had earlier operated on a friend. I am coming back next month to get the stitches removed. I have great trust in doctors here" said Wolf.

He was operated upon by a team of surgeons at HCG-Medisurge Hospitals which included head and neck onco-surgeons Dr. Toprani, Dr. Kaustubh patel, plastic surgeon Dr. Dushyanth Madlik and others. Wolf had a scary brush with cancer when he got a tumour at the upper jaw on the left side. "He was treated and given radiation for 6 weeks. It, however, reappeared after 6 months on the neck. The tumour was bad and got infected despite all treatments. Doctors refused surgery since it was complicated," said Dr. Toprani.

He said such complicated tumours are not routine in Europe but are routine in India. He said that Wolf was in extreme pain. "His spirit to live with zest was infectious. He is one of the few cancer patients who feed themselves with a tube on their own after undergoing a major surgery. We have to learn fight adversity with such gusto" said Dr. Toprani.
Meanwhile, Wolf's wife, who helps her husband run business in Nigeria, said they were looking forward to coming back for further treatment. "I wish we had come earlier. They have also put a flap from the skin on the chest to do reconstructive surgery on the neck" said Caterina who survived breast cancer 22 years ago.

CEO of HCG-Medisurge Hospital Dr. Bharat Gadhvi said that with advanced medical facilities and skilled surgeons in the state, there is huge potential for foreigners to get quality treatment.