Matondo Vova ignored the pain in his left leg for two years. Thinking it was arthritis, the active 47-year-old mentioned it to his doctor at an annual physical. “It was a very sharp ache,” says Matondo. “It felt like my leg was going to break.” He began having more difficulty standing and walking for long periods of time. The day after his physical, he got a call from his doctor, “I had an elevated level of alkaline phosphatase – an enzyme in my blood I’d never heard of.”
A high level of alkaline phosphatase could indicate problems with the liver or the bones. To understand the precise diagnosis, doctors will generally call for more tests or possibly a full-body bone scan. “The doctor asked me a lot of question about my history of injuries: “Did you injure your leg recently?” he had asked. “More tests were ordered, an x-ray, then an MRI. Then the next day I got a call from the doctor telling me that the tests results showed I had bone cancer.”
In a bid to search for appropriate treatment Matondo reached out to Vaidam Health. “I tried for India because they are on the leading edge and have the reputation of being the best”, he says. After speaking to his case manager, Matondo decided that he was going to get treated at Dharamshila Cancer Hospital - listed among 10 best cancer treatment hospitals in India. Dharamshila is a reputed healthcare provider that specializes in cancer treatment. The hospital employs the latest machinery to treat various types of cancers. With state-of-the-art equipment and top doctors, Matondo’s odds for ridding himself of his cancer were very high.
“As per the suggestion of my friends, I requested my case manager to schedule a consultation with the one person to see for bone cancer treatment – Dr. Amit Nath Misra, one of the best cancer doctors in India.” Matondo was extremely happy about his choice of doctors. “Dr. Misra, I came to learn, has been variously described as the guru in this field.” Meanwhile, Matondo’s case manager had all of his scans and patient information sent across to Dharamshila Hospital.
Motondo arrived in New Delhi on the 7th of March. His initial appointment with Dr. Misra took place the following week. “Dr. Misra put my scans on the screen and we went through them. It was a very caring and logical interaction,” says Motondo. His tests showed that he had a three-inch tumor, an osteosarcoma in his left femur. During the initial appointment, Motondo says all of his questions and more were answered. “I knew what I was heading into and that it was going to be a hard-fought battle”.
Over the course of 3 months, Motondo received close to 12 rounds of chemotherapy with multiple hospitalizations. By the end of his last chemo session, Dr. Misra kept Motondo under close observation for 3 days. “He seems to be reacting well to the chemotherapy, the tumor has shrunk considerably; he should show signs of improvement”, said Dr. Misra.
Overjoyed by this news, Motondo recalls: “It’s been a very hard fought battle, but thankfully, in the end, we have won.” After healing and regaining strength from chemotherapy, Motondo began physical therapy to regain his lost mobility. “Even though the road ahead seems long, Dr. Misra’s reassurance gave me a clear map of what lay ahead. The entire team at Dharamshila Hospital has inspired confidence and trust.”
After almost three months in India, Motondo made his way back to Angola on the 24th of May. Back in his home country, he sends his love and best wishes to everyone who supported him along this journey. “After many chemo sessions and over 200 hours of physical therapy, I now walk without crutches or a cane and with only a slight limp. I am feeling very confident about my recovery to full mobility.”
Vaidam would like to wish Motondo a full recovery and a happy and joyous future ahead.
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