Rajendra Kumar Srivastava, a 36-year-old from Kanpur, faced a serious, life-threatening health problem after developing long-lasting sores on his tongue. Within a few months, the condition made it hard for him to eat or speak. Looking for quick treatment, he went to other hospitals in Kanpur, where doctors suggested surgery and sent him to another hospital in Lucknow. However, his symptoms got worse because of a three to four month delay in diagnosis. He then visited a different hospital, but was sent back to Lucknow because that hospital did not have plastic surgery services. Feeling frustrated and disappointed by the poor treatment at other private hospitals, Rajendra was finally sent to Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital in Lucknow.

At Tender Palm Hospital, Rajendra consulted Dr. Narendra Krishna Yadav, a Consultant in Surgical Oncology.

After a thorough checkup, a small 2 mm tissue biopsy confirmed that Rajendra had tongue cancer. To see how far the disease had spread, the medical team did MRI scans of his face and neck and conducted tests to check for metastasis (the spread of cancer).

To restore vital oral functions such as speech and swallowing, the medical team planned a complex reconstructive procedure. This extensive surgery lasted approximately 16 hours. During the operation, doctors removed the cancerous portion of the tongue and reconstructed it using a 'free flap' technique; this involved harvesting tissue and muscle from Rajendra's arm and meticulously connecting the associated blood vessels to those in his neck. A major challenge during the surgery was the microvascular precision required to connect the delicate blood vessels of the 'free flap' to the neck region, while simultaneously ensuring the complete removal of cancerous tissue (oncological clearance). Using advanced surgical techniques and working with utmost care, the team successfully completed the procedure without any complications

After the surgery and careful post-operative care to reduce swelling, Rajendra showed significant improvement. He was hospitalized for only 5 to 6 days before being safely discharged. He easily transitioned from a liquid diet to soft food like khichdi, and his speech clarity improved significantly.

Rajendra and his family expressed deep gratitude to Dr. Narendra Krishna Yadav and his team at Tender Palm Hospital for their excellent care and life-changing treatment. Dr. Yadav emphasized that non-healing oral ulcers or painless neck lumps should not be ignored, and treatment should not be delayed due to fear. He noted that early consultation with a surgical oncologist enables timely treatment, resulting in better outcomes and improved quality of life.

At Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital in Lucknow, advanced cancer care and timely surgery help patients beat complex cancers, regain important abilities, and return to healthy lives.