Priti Devi’s Journey of Hope and Healing
Tata Trusts-supported Ranchi Cancer Hospital and Research Centre’s expert care has enabled Priti Devi, a young mother whose cancer had spread to her bones, to get back on her feet
In July 2022, 30-year-old Priti Devi from Rajrappa, Ramgarh district, embarked on a new chapter in life. She married Manoj, who ran a small general store and they were blissfully happy. Their joy multiplied when Priti became pregnant soon after their marriage. However, amid the excitement, Priti discovered a suspicious lump in her right breast during the fourth month of her pregnancy.
Given her condition, Priti was unable to undergo immediate treatment. The doctors advised her to wait until after childbirth. With mixed feelings of anticipation and concern, Priti and Manoj welcomed their baby girl into the world. It was during this period that they sought medical guidance from a renowned oncology facility outside Ranchi. However, they soon realized that the wait time would be long and they could not afford any further delays.
Fortunately, they learned about the Ranchi Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (RCHRC), supported by Tata Trusts. They soon began consultations with the Oncology team at RCHRC, in early January 2024.
On learning of their weak financial status, the hospital staff at RCHRC informed them that they were eligible to receive funds for diagnosis through the Beneficiary Support Fund supported by the Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited earmarked for needy families. This offered them some relief, at least temporarily. Unfortunately, the diagnosis confirmed metastatic breast cancer (bone) and the disease had progressed significantly, rendering her unable to walk. Priti suffered from immense pain and was unable to perform the simplest of daily activities. The strain of her illness weighed heavily on her marriage, which had only just begun. However, her six-month-old daughter found solace in the loving care of her grandmother and maternal aunt.
The Oncology team wasted no time in initiating Priti’s treatment plan, which was completed under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. However, Priti confronted additional challenges and battled cytopenia, a condition characterised by dangerously low haemoglobin and platelet levels. Despite completing palliative radiotherapy, Priti’s suffering persisted and the pain remained a relentless companion.
Determined not to lose hope, Priti underwent chemotherapy, despite her disease-related cytopenia. Her platelet count started improving gradually. Throughout her treatment, she required multiple packed cell transfusions to address her low platelet and haemoglobin counts. After 12 cycles of chemotherapy, a response CT scan showed a partial response, bringing newfound hope into Priti’s life.
Today, not only has Priti regained her ability to walk without support, but her condition of cytopenia has also resolved. Priti’s spirits are lifted as she envisions a future where she can watch her daughter grow and thrive alongside her loving family.
The expert and the compassionate care provided by the team at RCHRC played a vital role in transforming Priti’s outlook on life. Her journey underpins the necessity of access to quality healthcare and the unwavering support of loved ones. Priti’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and reaffirms the transformative impact that medical professionals and institutions can have on countless lives.
This story has been taken from the Tata Trusts' Annual Report 2023-24.
