Complex cancer operation performed at SKPCH

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Dec. 17: Sushil Koirala Prakhar Cancer Hospital (SKPCH), which caters to cancer patients from Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces, has been expanding its services of late. In this process, the hospital successfully removed a complicated cancer from the mouth of a patient for the first time this week.

The hospital successfully removed the cancer from the mouth of Raj Kumar Loniya of Janaki Rural Municipality–6, Banke. The cancer had progressed to an advanced stage and took eight hours to operate. 

This is the first time in the hospital’s history that it performed such a complex surgery. According to hospital chief Dr. Rishikesh Thakur, Loniya came to the hospital 12 days ago after being told by health institutions in Lucknow, India that it would cost a lot to perform the needed operation and even then, refused to give any guarantees that he would fully recover.

Dr. Sailesh Gautam, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, said that Loniya’s cancer had reached his throat and had caused his mouth to completely close shut. He informed that surgeons had to remove Loniya’s jaw bone and the bone below his eye and grafted skin from his chest on to his cheek.

“Loniya’s cancer had reached stage 4 ‘B’. Had it reached 4 ‘C’, it would have been inoperable,” Gautam shared. It is estimated that this kind of operation costs around Rs. 400,000 to perform.

Thakur said that SKPCH had also performed two big thyroid surgeries recently. Executive Director of the hospital Dr. Niraj Bhattarai said that the hospital’s service expansion had benefitted locals of western Nepal.