Mumbai: A team headed by Dr. Suhas Aagre, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Hemato-Oncologist at Asian Cancer Institute along with Dr.Mubarakunnisa Tonse Consultant Medical Oncologist and Dr.Ashank Bansal, Consultant Neuro and Vascular Interventional Radiologist successfully saved the life of a 64-year-old patient with stage-4 lung cancer. The patient who also had Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome exhibited symptoms like facial swelling and breathlessness, and throat blockage due to a tumour in the right side of the lung. He was treated with angioplasty, stenting, and Pre-emptive targeted therapy to reduce the size of the tumour. Also, the patient visited multiple renowned hospitals but still his health and then his family approached Dr Aagre who saved his life.
Mr Anant Bichewar, a resident of Nanded, Maharashtra was a non-smoker and led a healthy life. He was jolted out of his usual routine due to sudden facial puffiness. He dismissed this symptom by attributing it to lack of sleep. To his dismay, his health deteriorated further as he was breathless and lost oodles of weight. Soon, the patient found it difficult to do his daily chores with ease. His world turned upside-down as he would get breathless after walking, and unable to eat. The patient ran from pillar to post but nothing seemed to improve his condition. His family consulted various medicos and he even underwent biopsy and chemotherapy at a private hospital in Hyderabad but in vain. However, the patient was referred to Dr. Suhas Aagre who helped him breathe freely.
Dr Suhas Aagre, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Hemato-Oncologist at Asian Cancer Institute, said, “The patient came in an emergency with symptoms such as facial swelling, breathing difficulty with low oxygen saturation, and headache. A PET-CT scan showed a tumour in the right upper lobe of the lung with bulky mediastinal lymph nodes causing SVC syndrome along with bone metastasis suggestive of stage IV lung cancer. The SVC is a large vein in the upper body that drains blood away from the head, neck, arms, and upper chest and into the heart.
Dr. Aagre added, “In view of this life-threatening situation, he underwent angioplasty and stenting involving superior vena cava successfully. Even before the procedure, the patient was started on targeted therapy pre-emptively ( Tab Erlotinib 150 mg Once a day) considering his never smoker status. The patient showed excellent clinical improvement from the very next day. His follow CT scan showed a reduction in the size of lung mass and mediastinal nodes as well. The patient was discharged on January 12, 2022. On follow-up, the patient is fit, breathing, and eating properly. Not treating him at the right time could have led to the loss of life.”
“In December 2021, my father’s face appeared to be swollen and we took him to a local doctor who prescribed medication, but, his condition didn’t improve. We visited various hospitals in Nanded and even cardiologists performed some tests and gave medications. Still, his health kept worsening. Later, we did a CT scan that showed a tumour, and we went to Hyderabad and that is how cancer was detected. Then, he started having breathing difficulty and he was put on oxygen therapy, and we travelled to Mumbai. After treatment, his condition improved, and swelling disappeared. But earlier, we consulted many doctors and hospitals but they failed to guide us regarding my father’s condition. When we came back to Nanded, he stopped responding, and we started losing hope. We were blank and didn’t know what was going on with my father. Dr Aagre was prompt with the diagnosis and helped him sail through. We thank Dr Aagre and team for giving appropriate treatment to my father,” concluded the patient’s son Swapnil Bichewar.
