Inspiring Hearts: Moksha Jain’s Courageous Fight Against Osteosarcoma
Moksha Jain Case #103.
Back Ground: It is not only Impresses but also inspires us when we see such bravery and resilience in a very young girl (11 year old). The girl we are talking here about is Moksha Jain, Daughter of Mahendra Kumar Jain a pigmy collector at CA Bank, Mangalore and Padmaja Mahendra Jain, a tuition teacher who was 6 years old when her case was brought to PG Care’s notice. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in August 2019.
This is a living example for how faith and will can create wonders.
How Moksha Jain was helped by PG Care foundation:
Moksha being a very active girl, her world came to a halt when she started experiencing pain in her right hip and thigh in late July 2019. She was actively pursuing, Karate, skating and Bharatnatyam along with her studies. The pain did not respond to any medicine. She was referred to Mangalore hospital for MRI. From there was referred to HCG Hospital Bangalore for further investigation and there it was diagnosed as Osteosarcoma in late August 2019. Chemotherapy and surgery were suggested to her as treatment. Chemotherapy was done at Mangalore hospital and Rs. 45,000 cost was born by Moksha’s Parents.
The Surgery was planned in 2 stages. The estimated cost was Rs. 12 lakh(18,000 USD) The cost was brought down to Rs.9 Lakh with the help of Mithali foundation.
By selling her gold jewelry, taking loans from friends, raising funds through funding agencies and with help of cloud platform Moksha’s mother was able to arrange for Rs.3.2 lakhs. This sufficed to pay for two stage limb salvage surgery done at HCG Hospital, Bangalore on 14th November, under the care of Dr. Pramod Chinder. But she needed 2 more rounds of chemotherapy for which the family was struggling to arrange for funds. During that time this case was brought to PG Care’s notice through some group in Mangalore.
This case was thoroughly investigated by MR. Praveen K.R. (Founding member of PG Care) and Ms. Madhu Shree (Bangalore). Dr. Pramod Chinder expressed that the chances of complete recovery were 70%. So, PG Care foundation decided to provide fund of RS.3 lakhs. Two more rounds of chemotherapy were given and Physiotherapy was also done meanwhile. Now Moksha Jain is completely out of the clutches of dreaded disease.
“PG care foundation is very happy to share that Moksha Jain was invited as a guest of honor to inaugurate 10th annual function of PG care foundation.”
Other Osteosarcoma cases supported by the PG Care foundation: # 107 Veena 14-year-old girl Jan 2020 care provided at KMC hospital Manipal contribution made Rs.1,50,000 # 108 Mohd.Tabrez,12-year-old boy. Jan 2019 A J Shetty hospital Mangalore Rs. 1,49,000 #109, Joel 14year Boy March 2020, NH Hospital, Bangalore. Rs.4,00,000/- #110, Sanvith 7year Boy, KMC Hospital, Manipal, Rs.2,00,000 Jan2020. #116, Sourav Das 11year Boy. June 2020, Vaidehi Hospital Bangalore. Rs.60,000 # Total Rs.14,10,000 donated and 7 lives are rescued from the clutches of Osteosarcoma so far.
Osteosarcoma:
Osteosarcoma is a bone deforming malignancy, seen in younger than 20year of age in 75% of cases. It is mainly seen in the long bones as painful masses. The clinical history and radiological investigation can give the clue to the diagnosis, chemotherapy and bone salvage surgery are the main stray of treatment. Osteosarcoma is most common type of bone cancer in children and teens. This type of cancer mostly occurs in the ends of long bones, especially thigh bone (femur) the top of the larger shin bone(tibia), and top of the upper arm bone(humerus).
The exact cause of the cancer is unknown. It is not genetically transmitted. The changes in the DNA of the cell cause cancer.
Types of Osteosarcoma:
High grade: This is fast-growing type. Osteosarcoma in children is usually high grade.
Intermediate grade: It is an uncommon type.
Low-grade: This is slow-growing type of cancer.
Symptoms of Osteosarcoma in children:
It can be a bit different in each child. The symptoms are:
• Pain and swelling at the site of tumor
• Mass in the area.
• Pain increases during activity or at night
• Fractures without known reasons.
Diagnosis of Osteosarcoma:
This type of cancer is detected and confirmed by following tests:
X-ray, Blood tests, CT Scan MRI Bone Scans, Position emission tomography scan and biopsy of the tumor.
These diagnosis and other tests help to learn more about the cancer and show how far the cancer has metastasized (spread). Based on these stage grouping is assigned. This helps in deciding the treatment course of it.
Treatment:
The cancer can be treated with any or combination of the following:
• Surgery-When the surgery is done to save the limb it is called limb salvage or limb sparing surgery. On the contrary surgery may be done to remove an arm or leg amputation.
• Chemotherapy-Chemotherapy is usually given before surgery to kill cancer cells. But can also be given post-surgery. It is given in cycles with Periods of rest.
• Radiation therapy- High energy x-rays or gamma-rays are used to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. Though it is usually not used to treat Osteosarcoma, it may be used when the tumor can’t be fully removed with surgery.
Ref: Stanfordchildrens.org.
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