Under the skilled care of Dr. Biswajyoti Guha, Consultant – Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, a 35-year-old woman who had overcome ovarian cancer at the age of eight gave birth to a healthy baby girl naturally. This is a remarkable tale of perseverance and medical success. This rare case is the third delivery involving childhood ovarian cancer survivors and the first to take place without the use of assisted reproductive technology, according to Dr. Biswajyoti Guha and the hospital.

At 30 weeks of pregnancy, Poulomi Ghosh, 35, of Jadavapur, was referred to Manipal Hospital with severe upper abdominal pain and an initial diagnosis of an appendicular lump and perforated appendix. She was referred to a multispecialty setup for an urgent delivery and potential surgery after being admitted to another facility initially. Dr. Sanjoy Mandal, Consultant in General Surgery and GI Surgery, treated her with intravenous antibiotics after she was admitted to Manipal Hospital. After an MRI showed that the appendix was normal, the team decided to take a conservative approach.

Poulomi Ghosh, who works for a private company, said, “I was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst in my left ovary at the age of eight. The cyst was discovered to be malignant after surgery. I received chemotherapy and spent the following two years under medical supervision. I got pregnant naturally in 2024. My happiness was short-lived, though, because I was soon told that I had an appendicular lump and a perforated appendix. I was referred to Dr. Biswajyoti Guha, who helped me navigate a crucial stage of my pregnancy and gave me hope. On April 30, I gave birth to my baby safely at week 38 of my pregnancy. I will always be appreciative of Dr. Guha and his staff”.

The case is a potent illustration of the human body’s resilience, the progress made in women’s healthcare, and the hope it offers to children who have survived cancer all over the world.

Priyanka Dutta