Patient Details

Name: Mrs. Sarojni Devi Gounder

Age: 67 Years

Gender: Female

Country of Origin: Fiji

Doctor: Dr. Saurabh Gupta

Hospital: BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, India

Treatment: Right Partial Glossectomy with Right Selective Neck Dissection

Watch Mrs. Sarojni Devi’s daughter share their full experience in the video below

Mrs. Sarojni Devi Gounder, a 67-year-old woman from Fiji, noticed a small white patch on the right side of her tongue. It did not hurt, but it remained there for about two months. When it did not go away, she decided to get it checked. A biopsy revealed that the patch was tongue cancer, a type of oral cancer.

The cancerous patch was small, measuring around one centimetre, and had been detected at an early stage. However, she still needed surgery to remove the affected part of her tongue and the lymph nodes in her neck. Her family wanted her treatment to be handled by doctors experienced in head and neck cancer surgery.

Finding the right specialists for this surgery in Fiji was a challenge. The family began exploring treatment options in other countries, including India, where they could consult experienced surgical oncologists. However, travelling abroad for cancer treatment involved several arrangements. They needed help finding the right doctor and hospital, understanding the treatment costs, arranging medical appointments, getting a visa and finding accommodation. Managing all of this in an unfamiliar country while dealing with a cancer diagnosis was not easy.

While looking for assistance, Mrs. Gounder came across Vaidam Health on Facebook and decided to contact the team. She learned that Vaidam could help connect her with doctors and hospitals in India and assist with the arrangements needed for her treatment and travel.

Mrs. Gounder shared her biopsy report and medical scans with the Vaidam team, which were forwarded to surgical oncologists at top hospitals in India for review. She received expert medical opinions, a proposed treatment plan and clear cost estimates to help her family understand the available options.

The team also explained what the surgery would involve, how long she might need to stay in the hospital and what to expect during recovery. This included possible difficulties with eating and speaking in the first few days after surgery.

After reviewing the available options, Mrs. Gounder chose Dr. Saurabh Gupta at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi.

The Vaidam team then helped Mrs. Gounder and her daughter prepare for their trip from Fiji to India. The assistance included a medical visa invitation letter, airport pickup, accommodation assistance, appointment scheduling and hospital coordination. The team remained available throughout their stay and also provided follow-up support after they returned home.

Accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. Gounder travelled to New Delhi for her tongue cancer treatment in India. Before surgery, doctors performed an MRI of the neck to examine the cancer and check the surrounding lymph nodes. She was admitted to BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital on 15 October 2026.

On the same day, Dr. Saurabh Gupta and his team performed a right partial glossectomy with a right selective neck dissection. In simple terms, the surgery involved removing the affected part of her tongue. The lymph nodes on the right side of her neck were also removed.

During the operation, a tissue sample was sent for immediate testing to check whether the cancer had been completely removed. The test confirmed that the surgical margins were clear, meaning no cancer cells were found at the edges of the removed tissue. The surgery took about one hour, and there were no immediate complications.

After surgery, Mrs. Gounder's recovery focused on allowing her tongue to heal. She was started on a liquid diet and given antiseptic mouth gargles and medicines for pain. The medical team also guided her on maintaining oral hygiene and managing her food intake during recovery.

She recovered well and was discharged in a stable condition on 18 October 2026, just three days after the operation.

After discharge, Mrs. Gounder stayed in Delhi for a follow-up consultation with the surgical oncology team and to collect her final pathology report. This report helps doctors understand the findings from the removed tissue and decide whether any further treatment is needed.

Mrs. Gounder spent approximately three weeks in India. During this time, the Vaidam team remained in regular contact with her and her daughter, helping with follow-up appointments and other day-to-day arrangements. Before returning to Fiji, she received her medicines, medical reports and a follow-up plan to continue her care at home.

Sharing their experience, Mrs. Gounder's daughter spoke about how the Vaidam team helped them during their stay in India:

“When we found out that my mother had tongue cancer, we were worried and did not know what to do next. We found Vaidam on Facebook and got in touch with the team. They helped us speak to doctors in India, understand the treatment plan and know the costs in advance. They also helped us with the visa letter, airport pickup, hospital appointments and accommodation. Whenever we needed help, someone from Vaidam was there to guide us. Since we were travelling to a new country, it was a big relief to have someone take care of these arrangements. My mother and I did not have to run around or manage everything ourselves. We are really thankful to the Vaidam team for making our stay and treatment journey much easier.”

Mrs. Gounder's journey shows how important the right medical guidance and support can be when seeking treatment in another country. For patients travelling from Fiji and other countries to India, finding a suitable doctor and hospital is only one part of the process. Medical appointments, travel arrangements, accommodation and follow-up care also need attention. Vaidam Health helped Mrs. Gounder and her daughter manage these arrangements so they could focus on her treatment and recovery.

Vaidam Health wishes Mrs. Sarojni Devi Gounder a smooth recovery, good health and many happy years ahead with her daughter and family in Fiji. It was a privilege to support her and her family throughout this journey.