29-Year-Old Beats Advanced Rectal Cancer After Rare Surgery at KIMS Hospitals

Thane: A 29-year-old woman from Thane, who had been fighting advanced rectal cancer for the past year, has been given a new chance at life after doctors at KIMS Hospitals, Thane, performed a highly complex and rare surgical procedure.

The patient was diagnosed with locally advanced carcinoma rectum and had been undergoing chemotherapy. Several hospitals had declined to operate, citing the cancer’s spread and the high risks associated with surgery.

However, the team at KIMS Hospitals, led by Dr. Saneya Pandrowala, Consultant – Surgical Oncology, decided to take on the challenge.

After thorough planning and evaluation, Dr. Pandrowala and her team performed a posterior exenteration with en bloc sacrectomy — a demanding surgical procedure that required removing multiple affected organs and tissues in one go.

The operation involved excising the rectum, uterus, part of the sacral bone (S4/5), and the coccyx (tailbone). To preserve the patient’s quality of life and ensure post-surgical comfort, the surgeons also reconstructed the vaginal wall using the VY plasty technique, a method that allows better healing and restores normal function.

Despite the scale and complexity of the operation, the surgery was successful. The histopathology report revealed that the cancer had responded very well to prior treatment, and all the removed tissues showed clear margins, meaning no cancer cells were left behind.

The patient recovered steadily after surgery, with her wounds healing well. She has since been discharged and has returned to her hometown to continue maintenance therapy.

Reflecting on the case, Dr. Saneya Pandrowala said, “This young woman’s recovery reminds us that even advanced cancers can sometimes be managed effectively when treatment is approached with careful planning, teamwork, and precision.

Such surgeries are technically demanding but can provide a real chance at life for patients who might otherwise have very limited options.”

The case highlights KIMS Hospitals, Thane’s commitment to offering advanced, multidisciplinary cancer care, combining surgical expertise with compassion. It also showcases how determination and medical skill can come together to make recovery possible for patients facing some of the most challenging cancer diagnoses.