15 Dec, 2025
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15 Dec, 2025
More often than not, a cancer journey instills newfound strength and determination in patients and their families. Strength, resilience, and hope become just as important as the treatment itself as patients navigate through their cancer journey.
Today, we are back with the inspiring patient success story of Malini, who was diagnosed with retroperitoneal sarcoma, an aggressive type of cancer, in 2021. Read this patient story until the end to find out what helped Malini navigate her cancer journey and how she is doing today.
58-year-old Malini Devi (name changed) has always led a fulfilling and active life.
In March 2021, Malini started experiencing pain in her right flank and groin.
What started as a slight discomfort became a major problem over time, disrupting her day-to-day life. She had less urine output, worrying abdominal pain, and altered bowel movements by August 2021.
Subsequent evaluations at HCG Cancer Centre, K. R. Road, a comprehensive cancer hospital in Bangalore, revealed a substantial mass in the retroperitoneum. The retroperitoneum is behind the peritoneum, the thin membrane covering most abdominal organs. The kidneys, pancreas (partially), adrenal glands, ureters, major blood vessels like the aorta and the inferior vena cava (IVC), and parts of the intestines are all important parts of this space.
The measurement of this mass was 13 cm, and it affected the right kidney and went into the inferior vena cava. The final diagnosis showed that Malini had a high-grade undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. It was an aggressive type of malignancy and needed immediate and specialized care.
This diagnosis shook Malini and her family. They knew how serious the situation was because the tumor was close to important structures. They had an important decision to make: where to receive the right treatment?
Malini's tumor was large, aggressive, and deep-seated. Doctors carefully reviewed her case. There was a multidisciplinary tumor board meeting held for Malini's case to come up with a customized retroperitoneal sarcoma treatment plan.
The board collectively decided to carry out a comprehensive surgery involving maximal tumor removal, nephrectomy, and other critical procedures.
Her treatment plan predominantly focused on helping her manage her disease fully and maintain a good quality of life during and after the treatment.
Once the treatment plan was ready, experts took the time to explain her condition in detail, what her treatment plan involved, and what she should expect from her treatment.
Malini felt at ease when the team was calm and confident, as they made a complicated diagnosis easier to understand. She knew that her care would require the skills, teamwork, and close attention of many different specialists. For the first time since she found out she had cancer, she felt like someone was there to help her.
To find out more about Malini's comprehensive treatment, continue reading this cancer patient story.
Malini met Dr. Mahesh Bandemegal, a senior consultant and HOD - Surgical Oncology, at HCG Cancer Centre, a well-known hospital for cancer treatment in Bangalore, in August 2021 for her surgery.
It was a multidisciplinary surgery that involved:
This extensive surgery was necessary to achieve maximal cytoreduction and overall effective disease management.
This was a crucial step in her treatment journey because the maximal tumor removal had a significant impact on her survival rates.
Her surgical team was with her every step of the way as she healed and helped her prepare for the next part of her treatment.
After her surgery, Malini had four rounds of combination chemotherapy with ifosfamide and doxorubicin (Adrim) as part of her recovery.
This treatment plan was carefully chosen to fit the specific characteristics of her tumor, and the doses were carefully adjusted to fit her kidney function after the nephrectomy.
In December 2021, she finished her chemotherapy.
After finishing chemotherapy, she underwent radiotherapy through IMRT under the supervision of Dr. Lohith Reddy, Senior Consultant - Radiation Oncology, at a dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions.
This part of the treatment was carefully planned to protect nearby organs while making sure that the tumor receives the maximum dose.
She was very strong during the treatment and was able to finish her sessions in February 2022.
How is Malini doing today? Is she cancer-free? Continue reading this cancer success story to know.
Malini always went to her follow-up visits and scans with the same level of dedication over the years. Her reports always said that there were no signs of the disease coming back in the area. The small lung nodules discovered at diagnosis remain unchanged, and no new metastatic lesions have emerged.
Five years after her treatment, Malini is doing well today. She is full of life and cancer-free. Her recovery was mostly uneventful, especially considering how challenging it is to deal with a tumor as aggressive as retroperitoneal sarcoma.
It is a common belief that aggressive malignancies, or those that have spread to nearby organs, are impossible to treat. However, this is not entirely true. The field of cancer medicine has advanced significantly in the past two decades. Today, we can halt the progression of the disease, extend survival, and enhance the quality of life for patients diagnosed with aggressive malignancies. In some of the rarest of cases, like Malini's, we can achieve disease-free survival for many years after the treatment.
Malini's cancer survivor story emphasizes the importance of maintaining hope despite an aggressive cancer diagnosis. Many treatment options are available to extend survival and enhance the overall health of patients with aggressive cancers.
Malini Devi's story is a beautiful example of how thorough and caring cancer care can lead to amazing results. Her journey from diagnosis to long-term recovery shows how important it is to get an early diagnosis, work together to make plans, and use treatment methods that are right for her.
Her experience is a perfect example of how HCG is committed to helping patients not only beat cancer but also lead a fulfilling life after.
For such inspiring cancer survivor stories, visit: Patient Stories | HCG
