Sometimes decision making is a tough task particularly, when you are going to choose a hospital or a doctor for a complicated surgery on your loved one. A young doctor form California took a flight to India in the peak of ongoing Pandemic to be there beside his father in his fight with Bladder Cancer. A diagnosis of cancer in any of your loved one is a great tragedy for whole of the family. And it was a tough task for him to choose a doctor and a hospital for a surgery on his father. Being an anaesthetic himself he was aware of the challenges that are inherent to this surgery for bladder cancer. His father Mr. Deb Prasad Ghosh, a 76-year-old gentleman, a former official of West Bengal State Electricity Board was found to be having a Muscle Invasive Transitional Cell Carcinoma (kind of aggressive Bladder Cancer). He had all the means to take him to USA or any reputed hospital in India. But Mr. Deb was not keen for any travel during the pandemic. They consulted me with very high hopes and expectations, they were aware about our work in bladder cancer and believed in us. On the evaluation, it was found that one of his kidneys was also not functioning well.

He was worried about his old age, the cancer, poor functioning kidneys and the need of a complex surgery.

He had also experience of his mother having a bed sore during her last few days of her life and was anxious about it.

Usually, in muscle invasive localized urinary bladder cancer, bladder needs to be removed which is called Radical Cystectomy and either we make an artificial bladder using patient's own intestine (Neo Bladder) or we make an opening in abdominal wall called stoma through which urine comes out and gets collected in a bag which remains attached with patient's abdomen. After discussion and counseling with Mr. Deb his son and wife, he agreed to the plan and we did Radical Cystectomy along with Left Nephrectomy where we removed his left kidney and came out with Stoma which is called Ileal Conduit. Surgery went smoothly and recovery was also smooth.

During his pot operative period in hospital, we used to talk to him and keep him motivated. it’s a team work and besides healthcare workers support of family members is equally crucial. Thankfully we had a great support from all the family members. Now he is under follow up checkups and leading his normal life.