‘Felt like carrying seven babies’: Mumbai doctors remove 10.4 kg tumour from 20 kg woman

Mumbai: In a rare and medically complex procedure, doctors at the government-run St George’s Hospital in Mumbai successfully removed a 10.4 kg ovarian tumour from a 40-year-old woman, who weighed just 20 kg excluding the mass.

The patient, Meena Raoji Solanki, a resident of the Crawford Market area, had been suffering silently for over a year and a half. Her condition worsened drastically in recent months, with severe weight loss, stopped menstruation, and unbearable abdominal swelling.

“It felt like I was carrying six or seven babies inside me. Neighbours were scared to even look at me,” Meena told Hindustan Times.

Her ordeal began with mild pain after accidentally bumping into a table, which she ignored. Over time, her abdomen swelled significantly, her appetite faded, and she became bedridden. She was brought to the hospital in May by her brother and a social worker, severely dehydrated and unable to eat or walk.

Scans revealed a tumour occupying nearly her entire abdominal cavity, compressing her lungs, liver, spleen, intestines, and other vital organs. Doctors said there was a high risk of rupture and death due to her critically weak state.

“This was one of the most medically-complicated surgeries I have performed,” said Dr Rajshree Katke, head of gynaecology at the hospital.

“Her vital signs were dangerously unstable. We had to work around inflamed vessels and densely adhered tissues while anticipating potential rupture.”

The four-hour surgery was conducted by a multidisciplinary team, including oncologist Dr Koresh, gynaecologist Dr Shubhangi, and anaesthetists Dr Pournima Sonkamble and Dr Ruchi.

Meena was shifted to the ICU post-surgery and later to a general ward. She is now on a high-protein diet and slowly regaining strength.

“I thought it was just due to stopped periods. I ignored it for too long. But eventually, I became completely bedridden,” Meena said.

Doctors said her recovery will require sustained nutritional care, but her prognosis has improved significantly after the life-saving intervention.