My Journey of Rural Cancer Surgery in Present, Past Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

I passed out of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in 1999 and joined MNJ regional Cancer Center as Assistant Professor. After working for a year I realized that lot of poor patients are dying in districts from cancer and there was 2 months waiting list in MNJ. There was no Cancer Surgeon in those days in districts, it was erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Then I decided to visit different districts nearby and operate near their home and make local Surgeons aware about cancer surgery and principles. There are some great Surgeons in periphery who are doing great service but no Onco Surgeon.

I called my freind Dr. Kishan, an anaesthetist in Nizamabad and met Dr. Laxma Reddy sir of Pragati Hospital abd decided to visit every 2nd Sunday. I took a bus in Jubilee bus stand and waiting for it to start and then I thought why I am going to Nizamabad, won’t get money and have to self pay travel charges. But I thought let me try to do some service. Since then till now I am visiting periphery though Corona stopped me now because of travel risk. Had operated together with Dr. Jeevan Rao sir, Dr. Narayan Rao sur, Dr. Sambhashiva Rao sir, Pragati Hospital, Dr.Rama Devi mam, Dr, Kavita Reddy,Dr.Savita, Mahalaxmi Hospital and many more.

I realised peripheral people are very loving,  caring, down to earth and want best treatment.  They speak with affection and have high expectations. And not many can come to Hyderabad so I started carrying a black suitcase with operating instruments like good retractor, fine scissors, forceps etc., and started operating. They used to pay with whatever they have but never counted it, their love was satisfying me. I used to come home with my feet having blood or fluid spatters as they didn’t have hypotensive anesthesia those days in districts. Was too tired to wash and used to doze off.

Then I was invited to Karimnagar Meena hospital by Dr. Rammohan sir,Dr.Sagar Rao sir, Dr. Naveen sir, Dr. Prashant Sir, Dr. Azam sir. My first case in Karimnagar was Ileo Ceacal tuberculosis and next was a Parotid tumor at Surya hospital and was invited by Dr. Vishnu Reddy and Dr. Ravinder Rao sir. There I met first Dr. Narsimha Reddy sir. I noticed compunders were coming in banyans and outside pants into OT and then wearing surgical gown over it after scrubbing. But no patient developed complications or infections.  There started my journey of rural cancer surgery.

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I then visited Jagityal, Nirmal, Armoor, Adilabad, Bodhan, Mahboobnagar, Siddipet, Kurnool, Miryalaguda, Rajahmundry, Bheemavaram, Vizag, Nellore, Zaheerabad, Sangareddy, Warangal,Bhongir,Medak.

In Mahbbobnagar had operated in SVA hospital, Dr. Vishnu Janardhan sir, Dr. Madhusudan, Dr. Anil, Dr. Hariprasad, Dr. Venkateshwar and many more.

I can proudly challenge and say that I have done naximum no of cancer surgeries in rural districts. Though I didn’t get Paisa it gave me name and above all satisfaction. Many patients call me now and ask ne బాగున్నావా సారు and asthunnava(are you coming). And see them alive after a decade or two. That is enough for this life.

Many Surgeons gave me lot of love too and they showed it privately and publicly many times. First 4 years I went in red bus because my salary was Rs. 12,000. Later on I travelled in a Maruti 800 but felt it risky.  Once me and my assistant Dr. Vijayanad Reddy who was driving slept abd car took its own route down.  We were lucky no serious injuries occured,I had to hide it otherwise I would have been stopped. Then on I always used a driver. I remember that day we were doing radical hysterectomy under spinal anaesthesia and patient in between sir, IV fluids bottle is empty and then sister who was assisting us turned around with same gloves and reattached another bottle and joined surgery with just changing gloves. Initially we were shocked at the carelessness, later laughed a bit but I decided never to go that hospital again.

I remember some wonderful associations with many Surgeons and variety of challenging cases. I remember once Dr. Satish sir from Jagityal called me to come urgently for a bad uterine mass and together we operated successfully. Dr.Mohan Reddy sir, Dr.Guruva eddy,Dr.Chandrasekhar and many others always loved after us well, posted proper cases and sometimes used to call me if I have reached home safely. Sometimes I wonder how I did this routine twice in a week for almost 15 years. Used to start at 5.00 am and return at 2 pm many times. Get down at Siddipet for a cup of tea. Karimnagar and Jagityal doctors treated me very well, breakfast on arrival, good lunch and lots of affection. Those memories always float in my mind. Their children were students and now they have become Surgeons too like Dr. Arun. I also started with Dr. Bhoom Reddy sir, his son and his grandson now.

Shushruta cancer hospital where I gave service gave me lot of satisfaction.  All were poor arogyashree patients.  We started from scratch and built an Institute but management used us but never acknowledged us. But every patient still meet me and remember our service.  I had great time there with Dr. Riaz a special friend,Dr. Arun,Dr. Sanjiv Rao, Dr. Hemant,Dr  Nagesh, Dr. Krishnaveni. I pray for their health and happiness.  I now visit Chelmeda Cancer Hospital and meet Dr. Ezhilarsi Mam and Dr.Surya Narayan Reddy sir and give service to poor patients there

I met Dr. Jagan Mohan Reddy ,radiaton Oncologist and Dr. Hussamuddin a CT Surgeon in Nizamabad and we three used to  visit Nizamabad  by car pooling. There was no huge highway those days and we used to travel through forest, villages ,and enjoy Jesudas songs , Hussam bhai’s sher,dhaba food on our drive. It was a great journey which I will always cherish.

Another Surgeon in Armoor Dr. Madhusekhar has given his life to rural population and I visited his place for a decade with Jagan and Dr. Narsimha Reddy sir. We used to have delicious Ankapur chicken there and did many surgeries. Another Surgeon who was an inspiration is Dr. Suresh Chandra Hari who gave enormous service to Nirmal and was my teacher in my first clinical posting in Osmania General Hospital

After I joined KIMS hospital I got a chance to operate in Rajahmundry Vijaywada, Vizag, Nellore, Bheemavaram. Some politicians and self centered people have caused division of region amongst us but Andhra people were intelligent, loving, caring and hard working. Their hospitality is amazing. I especially enjoyed sea food there and the greenery. I was once gifted a 7 kg fish and had to employ person to carry it in railway station but ended giving it to hospital employees accompanying me who were looking with interest at the fish. I was introduced to delicious pootha rekulu and kotai kaja there.

Had operated many tricky cases, complications of others and complicated cases. Once a hemicolectomy case had low hemoglobin and his group was A+ve and as blood was not available, I donnated a pint and operated him. Nothing will happen with one pint of blood donation to us but it can save someones life in need.

I never stayed overnight and used to travel back even if its 2 pm, I guess God has been around.

Maybe I should have started a cancer hospital somewhere and make some money but I was pursuing my dream of becoming Robotic Surgeon in Hyderabad and got hooked to advanced technology to treat cancer patients. Robotic Surgery is another field which doesn’t make money but fills my heart with satisfaction and happiness.

My rural cancer surgery taught me to be patient, humble, listen to every patient and help a doctor when needed. There was a driver who money from my bag , an assistant who silently forgot to handover my fees and a student who learnt from me and started robbing my cases. But that is life I will never know how much they robbed because I never counted my fees to avoid discriminating friends on payment basis.This part of journey had joy of giving back to society in rural area, helping friends, tears of travel, painful disc prolapse twice, life long friends and supporters. I thank all rural doctors who helped me in my RURAL CANCER JOURNEY and God bless them and their families. Above all I thank God and my patients for giving me opportunity to serve them and seek forgiveness from those whom I couldn’t cure but will definitely keep trying as long as possible. I also seek forgiveness from people I have hurt during my journey but it was unintentional , from friends and family whom I could not give time.