He thought it was just a stomach ache. Tests revealed the expected
A businessman from Jharkhand rushed for a scan after severe stomach pain, expecting gallstones because of his family history. What doctors discovered next, silently growing inside his body, changed his life forever.
For Mr Singh, March 4 began like any other busy workday. The Jharkhand-based motor part wholesaler has spent years handling the pressures of business with calm determination.
But that morning, something felt different. A sharp pain suddenly developed in his abdomen and soon began radiating toward his back. Hours passed, but the pain refused to ease. Instead, it grew stronger every minute.
For nearly 36 hours, Mr Singh struggled with the discomfort. Given his family history, he immediately suspected gallbladder trouble. His mother, brother and several relatives had previously suffered from gallstones, making him believe he was dealing with the same issue.
Without waiting for a doctor’s referral, he walked straight into a diagnostic centre for an ultrasound scan. The results initially appeared to confirm his fears. Doctors found two gallstones measuring 18 mm and 21 mm inside an inflamed gallbladder.
But moments later, the routine scan turned into something far more serious.
A ROUTINE ULTRASOUND TURNED INTO A CANCER SCARE
As the radiologist continued examining the left side of his abdomen, the mood in the room suddenly changed. The doctor quietly advised him to consult a specialist immediately. Sensing something alarming, Mr Singh reportedly asked, “What is it? At most, it’s cancer.”
The silence that followed confirmed his worst fear.
Doctors had detected a suspicious tumour in his left kidney, an incidental finding completely unrelated to the pain that had brought him in for testing.
SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT TREATMENT
What followed was an emotional journey across multiple cities as Mr Singh searched for the right treatment plan. He first visited Ranchi, where doctors recommended separate surgeries at different times for the kidney tumour and gallbladder condition. Unsatisfied with the approach, he travelled to Mumbai for another opinion, but he still did not feel convinced.
Finally, based on his son’s recommendation from Bengaluru and encouragement from a family member who had previously undergone treatment under the same doctor, Mr Singh visited Manipal Hospital and consulted Dr. Monika Pansari.
After a detailed evaluation, doctors confirmed the presence of a tumour in his left kidney. The medical team then suggested a combined robotic surgery approach: a robotic-assisted radical nephrectomy to remove the cancerous kidney along with the tumour, and a cholecystectomy to remove the inflamed gallbladder in the same procedure.
WHY KIDNEY CANCER OFTEN GOES UNDETECTED
According to Dr Monika Pansari, kidney cancers often grow silently without showing any symptoms in the early stages. She explained that many patients remain unaware of the disease until it is discovered accidentally during scans for unrelated health problems.
She further stressed the importance of regular health screenings, especially because early-stage cancers can often be cured if detected in time.
ROBOTIC SURGERY HELPED REMOVE THE TUMOUR PRECISELY
The surgery was performed using robotic-assisted technology, which allowed doctors to operate through small incisions with high precision. This approach helped minimise blood loss, reduce pain and speed up recovery.
During the operation, surgeons also removed several enlarged lymph nodes for testing to determine whether the cancer had spread.
Fortunately, pathology reports brought positive news.
Doctors confirmed that Mr Singh had renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer, but the tumour had been completely removed with clear surgical margins. Most importantly, there was no evidence that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.
This meant he would not require chemotherapy or further cancer treatment.
A STOMACH ACHE THAT ENDED UP SAVING HIS LIFE
In many ways, a severe stomachache had unknowingly saved his life.
Health experts say the case highlights a critical reality: several cancers, including kidney cancer, may remain silent for years before being detected. Routine health check-ups and timely screenings can often lead to early diagnosis, significantly improving survival chances.
For Mr Singh, what began as unbearable abdominal pain ended with something far greater: an early cancer diagnosis, successful robotic surgery and a second chance at life.