Help Arup Kr Saha fight Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Dear all, I am Dr. Gourab Das, doing my postdoctoral studies in Chemistry in Universität Würzburg. My father-in-law Mr. Arup Kumar Saha, is suffering from rare cancer and needs a lot of money for the treatment within a very short period of time. Please go through the following, share and donate if possible. The following write-up is from my wife Dr. Suchismita Saha with all her feelings.

 

I am doing this post today in anticipation of some help from you. My father, Arup Kumar Saha, has a rare type of cancer called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC). The cost of treatment is around 60-70 lakh rupees (INR). It is impossible to raise so much money for a middle-class family like ours. However, I believe that with your help this impossible task will be possible. I firmly believe that with your help and prayers, with the blessings of God, with the help of science and doctors, my father will surely recover very soon. We look forward to your help. Here are some details of my father and regarding the treatment:

My father was a chemistry teacher by profession. He retired in February 2017. He has become 65 this February. Although he retired from government service, I have never seen him sitting idle. Always he used to do some useful work either for family, or for neighbors, or for relatives, or for his students. I’m not saying this to advertise him but I’ve really seen very few people like him. He had never smoked cigarettes, never drank alcohol, never took khaini, betel nut or any intoxicants. I have even never seen him to be addicted to tea. Sometimes if someone used to offer him tea, I always saw him telling "Not necessary, but if you make do it without sugar’’. My father did lots of struggle to earn money for his education. I have never seen him indulge in anything. He lived a very simple life, doing exercises regularly, walking for one hour every day. When this kind of person gets cancer, it becomes tough to believe. When I came to know, I was in shock and started finding the reason for his cancer. But these types of cancers are sometimes idiopathic. Even without any risk factor, it just happens. I again realized that many things happen in life for no reason. And even if you don't want to accept, you have to accept the truth.

My father's cancer is formed in the maxillary sinus, that is, the part of the sinus between the cheek and the nose. Several parts of the tumor have already been removed through an operation. Biopsy of the sample detects this rare cancer which was further verified in TMC, Kolkata. We started treatment at TMC Kolkata, though no proper treatment for cancer has yet started. Doctors took M.R.I and C.T. Scans of my father which shows that the cancer has reached the entire nosebone, nasal cavities, maxilla means the upper jaw, the side bone of the ear, left side of the lower jaw, eye orbital floor, and approaching the brain. Dr. P. Arun, head of the department for Head and Neck Oncology department of T.M.C. said that surgery is no longer possible. Even if it is possible it will be very risky and they have to remove most part of the faces whose reconstruction is next to impossible. He also said that the treatment for this type of cancer is surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (XRT). It is completely chemo inactive, meaning it does not work with chemo at all. Radiation alone (X-ray radiation or photon radiation) will do very little to this advanced stage cancer. The radio sensitivity of ACC is very less in comparison to other type of cancer. And only photon radiation is given in India, with one proton radiation center in Chenna Apollo. But as the cancer has not metastasized yet (luckily), there is still hope to become cancer free. ACC cancer tumors are so prevalent in father’s case that doctors said the only treatment is carbon-ion radiation (CIRT) which will do well in terms of killing this particular type cancer in this stage. But this carbon ion radiation is nowhere available in India. This is possible in Japan of Asia or Germany of Europe. I have discussed this with some other doctors and also took the 2nd opinion from TMH Mumbai. After that we have decided to take my father's treatment either in Japan or Germany. I have already contacted the doctors in these two places. Both Japan and Germany have stated that "Carbon Ion will be the best option for him." But this huge amount of treatment cost became a huge barrier to start the treatment. We are trying to make as much as possible from our Fixed Deposits and savings. But it is never possible for us to raise such an amount of money without your help. I firmly believe that with your help we will be able to accomplish this impossible task and save my father’s life. We have to start the treatment as soon as possible. Once it reaches brain or other parts of the body it will be very difficult to treat. Please share the post and donate as much as possible.

Your cooperation can save my father. Thank you so much.

- Suchismita Saha