“He is the apple of my eye”, shares father of 11 yrs old Irshad, completed treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma at Paras Cancer Centre – Patna. An active child, Irshad is an all rounder – top of his class in academics, exceptional at extracurricular activities and an ardent sports player. His mother adoringly describes him as hyperactive and exceptionally talented.
However the perfect family suffered the first set back when Irshad feel ill. He started to suffer from persistent high fever, cough and cold. Moreover he had a lump in his neck. Local doctors and physicians recommended medication for common cold; however it brought him no relief. A local doctor misdiagnosed Irshad with Jaundice and started treating him for the same.
Since the medical treatment was just incorrect, Irshad’s condition continued to deteriorate. The bubbly child now became a weak, ill and sad being, looking forward to get well soon. He lost his appetite and the last straw was when he started to get blood in his stools.
“It was like sand was slipping out of my hand and I couldn’t control it. My child kept on suffering from severe bouts of fever and he started to suffer every day. His health also affected the family morale. The once cheerful boy was turned into a vegetable. After discussion with few relatives and close associates, it was decided that we consult a specialist at Paras Patna. We were aware that the hospital is a specialized centre and has the best team of experts in the state,” shares Irshad’s father.
On consultation with Dr Avinash Kumar, Consultant Haematology a few tests such as a Lymph node Biopsy were recommended. The tests highlighted the reason of the lump and confirmed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
According to Dr Avinash Kumar – Bihar’s first Hemato-Oncologist- “Hodgkin disease (Hodgkin lymphoma) is a type of cancer of the lymphatic system that is also responsible for the immunity of the body. In Hodgkin lymphoma the cells grow abnormally in the lymphatic system and then spread to the entire body. There is uncontrollable growth of the cells. Due to this the body’s defense mechanism to fight infection is affected. The basic symptoms associated are – Painless swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin, persistent fever and fatigue, loos of appetite, night sweats, unexplained blood loss and itching. The patient is tired and irritable. Irshad highlighted all the possible signs and symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the biopsy test of the lymph node that was protruding out confirmed the same.”
Irshad was recommended to undergo 6 cycles of chemotherapy as per protocol. He had successfully completed his chemotherapy and has improved significantly. Irshad has gained his strength back and is cheerful again. “When I saw Irshad sinking and not responding to the medication in the village, the thought of losing him scared me. Thanks to the right and just treatment at Paras, I have got my child back again,” shares Irshad’s father.
Dr Avinash states, “Even today there is no recognized real cause of Hodgkin lymphoma. The treatment options depend on the stage of disease, your overall health, and your preferences. The goal of treatment is to destroy as many cancer cells as possible and bring the disease into remission. Doctors usually use a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Sometimes stem cell transplant is also recommended. A stem cell transplant is a treatment to replace your diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells that help you grow new bone marrow. A stem cell transplant may be an option if Hodgkin’s lymphoma returns despite treatment. It is best that the doctors recommend the best line of treatment as per the analysis of the patients situation.”
