“We are grateful to Dr Riya Ballikar and staff at Wockhardt Hospital, Nagpur for their continuous support, dedication and encouragement towards patient suffering with blood cancer. The journey of treating and living with cancer is daunting both for the patient and family members. With proper cancer services and medical support the journey can be made less painful, enduring and hopeful every step of the way. ”

On the occasion of World Cancer day, Wockhartd Hospital would like to share with you a heartfelt story of courage and determination shown by a patient who is suffering from advanced stage of multiple myeloma.

“In 2014, my wife developed a pathological fracture to her thigh and was wrongly diagnosed with osteoporosis and was treated for the same. Subsequently her condition deteriorated. In 2017 at the age of 50, she was diagnosed, by a general doctor with advanced stage of multiple myeloma and was referred to CMC Vellore for further management. On hearing this we felt the despair and complete hopelessness for our future.

Unfortunately preceding this development, she suffered another fracture in Nagpur and we had to admit her at Wockhardt Hospital Nagpur for treatment under Dr. Riya Ballikar, an experienced haematoncologist and Dr Manoj Pahukar, Orthopaedic Surgeon. During her course of treatment, it was discovered that her bones were becoming brittle, as the disease and had rapidly progressed. She was put on a wheel chair and was almost bed ridden. Due to her condition, we decided to continue our treatment at Nagpur under Dr Riya‘s Ballikar’s care.

It’s been over a year now and my wife has made progress steadily. From being bed ridden, she can now move around and has been asymptomatic. She is doing her own daily routine. She has shown 90 % recovery from the treatment and cancer protocol regimens that she has been receiving from Wockhardt Hospital, Nagpur, under the supervision of Dr Riya.

I am thoroughly thankful and grateful to Dr Riya Ballikar and the haemato-oncology team at Wockhardt Hospital for their dedication and support. I would like to highlight that Dr Riya has a keen sense of patience and kindness toward her approach with patients at the hospital. Her human touch and positivity instils confidence and boosts the morale of patients suffering from diseases like blood cancer.

She always reassures the patients by telling them that they will get better and gives them hope and belief to live each day. This continuous care and compassion shown by Dr Riya and the staff at the hospital has boosted my wife’s morale and kept out spirits alive. We look forward to each day with hope and determination, and say yes I can and I will get well soon.

Haematoncology Services at Wockhartd Hospital:

The treatment of blood cancer requires a multidisciplinary disciplinary approach such as diagnostics, and haematologists, pathologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, trained nurses and other relevant health professionals. Wockhardt hospital offers the most advanced diagnostic technologies and treatments available for blood cancer today.

The department of haematology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to the blood. At Wockhardt Hospital the speciality is fully equipped in diagnosing the various different types of blood conditions that are looked at include anaemia, thalassemia, haemophilia, general blood clots, bleeding disorders, haematological malignancies such as platelet disorders, lymphoma and leukaemia (cancers) , multiple myeloma as well.

At Wockhardt Hospitals, we have essentially a team of highly trained specialists, nurse clinicians, physical and occupational therapists who are all equipped to provide patients with care in the field of Haematology. We use the latest in pharmaceuticals and leading-edge technologies to help you win over diseases and live a normal life.

For further information on cancer please visit Wockhardt Hospital.

Dr. Riya Ballikar:M.D. (General Medicine), D.M. (Haematology) is a Consultant – Clinical Haematologist and Haemato Oncologist. Dr. Riya has 6 years’ experience in clinical Haematology and Heamato – Oncology. Apart from outstanding academic performance, she has many articles and scientific papers to her credit. Her Area of expertise includes Lymphoma, Leukaemia, Myeloma, Anaemia, Sickle cell disease, Thalassemia, Haemophilia, Platelet and Clotting disorders, Transfusion medicine and Bone marrow Transplant.

I CAN … I WIN: A Breast Cancer Survivor

A 31year old female was suffering from breast cancer. She was suffering from a breast lump for 3months and after visiting Wockhartd Hospital, Mira Road, it was diagnosed as Invasive ductal carcinoma .Under the treatment of Dr. Aditi Agarwal, consultant general surgeon, a breast reconstructive surgery with oncolplasty and 6 cycle of chemotherapy and radiation was carried out to prevent further spread of the cancer.

Patient has made a full recovery and after 2years they have been no recurrence.

Patient showed great determination and will to undergo surgery and chemotherapy thereafter. She beat all odds in the fight of cancer recovery and today leads a positive and fulfilling life

Breast reconstruction after surgery is now surgical technique for women after breast cancer surgery being adopted for cosmetic reasons.After having a mastectomy (or some breast-conserving surgeries); a woman might want to consider having the breast mound rebuilt to restore the breast’s appearance after surgery.

This is called breast reconstruction .There are many ways to reconstruct a breast. Different techniques include inserting an implant, inserting tissue from another part of your body, or using a combination.

One advantage of immediate reconstruction is that patient will not experience the emotional impact of having an empty space where the breast used to be.

For more information on breast cancer detection, screening and breast reconstructive surgery visit Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road.

Dr. Aditi Agrawal: MBBS, MS (General Surgery); F.M.A.S.; F.A.C.R.S.I; F.I.A.G.E.S.Associate Consultant – General Surgeon

Dr. Aditi Agrawal is an established General Surgeon at Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road, having a decade of experience in her specialty. She has a rich experience of all General Surgeries. She has performed all kinds of open and laparoscopic surgeries including advanced surgeries.  

Dr. Aditi Agrawal has over a decade of experience in breast surgeries, bottom procedures including haemorrhoids (piles), fissure, fistula, pilonidal sinus and laparoscopy (hernia surgery, gall bladder surgery, appendix surgery). She is also well versed in gastroenterology and can handle laparoscopic procedures.