Months of Vomiting and Pain After Cancer Treatment: KMC Hospital Mangalore Helps Cancer Survivor Rebuild Her Life
Mangaluru: Completing cancer treatment is a major milestone, but some patients may continue to experience complications related to their treatment. A 63-year-old woman, Savitha, who was treated for uterine cancer, recently underwent complex surgery at KMC Hospital, B.R. Ambedkar Circle, Mangaluru, after radiation therapy caused severe damage to her intestine. She has now regained the ability to eat normally.
Savitha underwent a radical hysterectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the uterus and nearby tissues, followed by radiation therapy in 2024. Over the following year, she developed severe abdominal pain and vomiting whenever she attempted to eat solid food. Doctors diagnosed her with radiation-induced intestinal strictures, a condition in which radiation causes scar tissue to form inside the intestine, narrowing the passage through which food moves. As a result, she could tolerate only liquids and gradually became severely weak and malnourished.
By the time she arrived at KMC Hospital, Mangaluru, Savitha had lost more than 20 kg and weighed only 30 kg. Doctors also detected a painful lump in her abdomen. A PET scan, which detects cancer activity in the body, showed no evidence of cancer recurrence or spread.
Dr. Vidya Bhat, Consultant, Surgical Gastroenterology, and her team initially attempted to manage her condition without surgery. A Ryle’s tube, a thin tube inserted through the nose into the stomach to drain accumulated fluid and reduce vomiting, was placed. However, even consuming liquids continued to cause severe pain.
Surgery was eventually performed after the risks and possible outcomes were discussed with her family. During the nearly eight-hour procedure, doctors found extensive adhesions, or bands of internal scar tissue that can cause the intestines to stick together. Around 70 to 80 cm of her small intestine had become tightly adhered, forming what appeared almost like a cocoon. Some sections also had a poor blood supply and were at risk of developing gangrene, a condition in which tissue begins to die due to inadequate blood flow.
Doctors removed the damaged portion of the intestine and the caecum, the first part of the large intestine. The remaining sections of the intestine were then joined to restore the normal passage of food.
During the surgery, Savitha experienced significant bleeding, and her blood pressure dropped to around 50 mmHg. Dr. Madhusudan, the anaesthesiologist, and the surgical team stabilised her and successfully completed the procedure. She was monitored in the ICU for two days.
Today, Savitha can consume both liquids and solid food without the severe pain and vomiting that had affected her for months. Since part of her intestine has been removed, she will continue to undergo nutritional monitoring to ensure that her body is adequately absorbing essential nutrients.
Dr. Vidya Bhat said, “Surgery was a difficult decision because she was severely malnourished and had already received radiation therapy. However, even liquids were causing significant pain. After discussing the risks and options with her family, we felt surgery offered her a chance to eat normally and regain a better quality of life. Her recovery has been very encouraging.”
Dr. Swathi, Consultant, Surgical Gastroenterology, said, “Radiation therapy can sometimes cause changes in the intestine that may appear months or even years after treatment. Persistent vomiting, abdominal pain or difficulty eating should not be assumed to be a normal part of recovery. In cancer survivors, such symptoms need timely evaluation, particularly when they begin to affect nutrition and body weight.”
Mr. Pramod Kunder, Cluster Director, Manipal Hospitals, said, “Managing a case this complex requires close coordination between multiple specialties, supported by the right infrastructure and critical care facilities. At KMC Hospital, Mangaluru, the surgical gastroenterology, anaesthesia and ICU teams worked together through a prolonged and high-risk procedure and the patient’s recovery. Cases such as Savitha’s also reflect the importance of having specialised teams and advanced hospital facilities available to manage complications that can arise after cancer treatment.”
For cancer survivors, persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, difficulty eating or unexplained weight loss should not be ignored. Such symptoms may sometimes be linked to previous treatment and require medical evaluation. For patients like Savitha, recovery means more than being cancer-free. It also means being able to eat without pain, regain strength, and return to everyday life.