Govardhan Kashiram Charate, diagnosed with brain stem glioma.
Case number: BK 18344
Occupation: Engineer Part Bandhare, Ambravati section

I am a sectional engineer and would like to share my story of how I survived a dangerous brain tumour.

Six years ago one day, while working at the office, I had a bout of sneezing and giddiness thereafter. Every time I bent down or looked up, I would lose my balance. Due to these symptoms, I decided to go for a check-up. I approached all the M.D. doctors in my vicinity. Amongst these doctors, a doctor by the name of Dr. Nalavle, an M.D. from Buldhana, gave me good advise and referred me to Dr. Praful Panse, a Neurosurgeon from Aurangabad. In Aurangabad only CT scan was available which was done and Dr. Panse' told me that there was a problem in the brain and that an MRI should be done in Mumbai or Pune. So I left for Mumbai immediately and got myself admitted into K.E.M. Hospital. I stayed in the hospital for approximately 12 days. During this period the doctors at KEM referred me to N.M. Centre at Girgoan, Chowpatty for MRI. According to the MRI report, the doctors at KEM informed me that there was a tumour in the brain stem, which could be very dangerous. Brain stem is at the lower part of the brain and controls all the vital functions of the body and also connects it to the spinal cord. Therefore it is very risky to remove a tumour in the brain stem as it could damage the nerves of that area and could result in a handicap or memory loss. With this explanation Dr. Pandya, the neuro surgeon at KEM hospital advised against surgery and referred me to Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. I was given to understand that if no further treatment was given, I would not survive beyond 6 months. I then became terrified and felt that death was looming ahead of me.

After being referred to Tata Hospital by Dr. Pandya from KEM my radiotherapy treatment was started by Dr. K.A. Dinshaw and the team. Before the treatment was started, I used to lose my balance. My wife, Kranti accompanied me to the hospital for my treatment, continuously for a period of 3 months by local train. The doctors from Tata Hospital gave me radiotherapy treatment, which was most suitable for my condition and that has given me a new life. It is now six years since my treatment and I am living a very normal life and working as an Engineer. This is the reason why I want to communicate this. If it were not for the Tata Hospital, I would not have survived. Had it not been for this, I would mot have been able to write this, and you, unable to read it. I am very grateful to all the doctors and the staff at the hospital.

I would like to convey this message to all the brain tumour patients. The most important thing is to get the right diagnosis instead of taking medicines for temporary relief.

Another message I would like to convey to all patients is that no matter how big the problem may appear, do not be afraid, as there are hospitals like Tata Memorial and the Brain Tumour Foundation, which will take care of you. We are fortunate to have this. In my experience, no matter how dangerous the illness may be, Tata Hospital would be able to treat the patient. The doctors at this hospital seem like God to me. Their attitude towards the patients is very nice. This time when I came for my yearly check up at the Tata Hospital I was very happy to know that the Brain Tumour Foundation is reaching out to more patients and their families in providing support and courage during the most difficult time of our life.

Your friend

Govardhan Charate
(A brain tumour survivor)
27th May 2002, Mumbai

Name: Amreen. H. Khan
Tata Hospital Number BP 17047

Hello, my name is Amreen. I am a 12 year old girl and live in Mumbai with my Mummy, Papa and little brother. One day in the school, I could not see the black board properly and my class teacher told me to see an eye doctor.

The doctor looked in my eyes and asked me to do a CT scan to see if it was OK inside. After that, Dr. Andar the Brain surgeon at Bombay hospital operated and removed a tumour from my brain (pineal region). Operation did not pain as I was given the sleeping injection. I was then sent to the Tata hospital, where the doctors asked me to go for another scan and then told me that I
would have to take 6 weeks of radiation or 'light' treatment.

Then they told me that this treatment will not hurt me and if I take this treatment, I will become all right again. But, they also told me that my hair would fall, but then slowly come back. Then they made me lie on a table and made a mask. The mask was tight but I could somehow see through the mask what the doctors were doing to plan my radiation treatment.

I was scared when the table was moving but doctor uncle (Dr Sarin) told me, "don't move Amreen, so that we can quickly finish the marking and then you can go home." The next day, I was taken to a very big machine called Linac. When I came out of the room, my little brother asked me what did they do inside. I told him that the mask was fitted on my face again and they
switched off the lights, which scared me. They left me alone in the big room for 5 minutes. I could hear the sounds of the machine that was moving, but I did not cry as it did not touch me or hurt me.

Like I go to school everyday, I used to come by train to Tata hospital with
my mother every day for 6 weeks for the radiation treatment. I used to cry
when my hair started falling and the head became dark and stopped going to
school. I wanted to play but everyone said Amreen do not play. My friends
from school and those near my house came to see me. I told them I was OK.
The doctor did one more MRI of my head and my Mummy was very happy when
Doctor uncle told her that the tumour had gone. I then started going to
school. One day Deshmukh uncle, the social worker from Tata Hospital phoned
my house and called me to the function of BTF. My Mummy gave me good dress
and bangles for the function. There I danced on very nice song â?oBhumro
Bhumro, Shyam rang Bhumro� and everyone said that Amreen is very good in
dancing. Two years after the treatment I go to the hospital for check up
after every 4 months. My Mummy is scared to go to the hospital but me and my
brother are not afraid to go there as they are all nice and do not give me
any injection.

Amreen, 27th May 2002, Mumbai