Rare cancer ruptures 11-year-old's reproductive organs, doctors reconstruct them

When she was five years old, a rare cancer, cervical rhabdomyosarcoma, developed in the muscle-like tissues of the cervix. This was in 2020. Surgery and chemotherapy helped her get a cure, but the child lost her normal vaginal and cervical structures. Recently, she returned to Manipal Hospital in Ghaziabad, UP, with complications that can potentially affect her menstrual and reproductive health. A team of multidisciplinary health experts decided to carry out a rare, reconstructive procedure in March this year, and what it gave her is a new lease of confidence. Recovering well, she is now attending school as well, the hospital said. Here's how it panned out.

The procedure
Using a segment of the patient's intestine, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Kundan Singh, consultant, surgical oncology, at the hospital, carried out the rare reconstructive procedure to create a new cervix and vagina. When a child goes through cancer, the impact goes far beyond the disease itself. Our goal was to give her childhood back and help her both physically and emotionally," Dr Kundan said. According to him, through careful planning, the doctors were able to reconstruct the affected structures and support her overall well-being. "Such interventions are important to ensure that young survivors can lead healthy, confident and fulfilling lives after beating cancer," he said.

Dr Munisha Sharma, consultant gynaec-oncology at the hospital, said cancers affecting reproductive organs in children are extremely rare and require coordinated long-term care. "Our focus was to ensure that the patient could regain normal bodily function and maintain better reproductive and menstrual health outcomes in the future. Early intervention, coordinated care and emotional support are equally important in the recovery journey of young patients," she said.

What is cervical rhabdomyosarcoma
It is an aggressive cancer that can affect both children and adults, according to the Mayo Clinic. In patients, the rapidly growing tumours of the cancer can protrude from the uterus or vagina. The exact causes are not known, but doctors mostly cite chromosomal abnormalities and DNA changes. It's the most common subtype, the 'embryonal cervical rhabdomyosarcoma.'
(With PTI inputs)