An undiagnosed ovarian tumour of a 21-year-old girl gave rise to pregnancy rumours in Barabanki district – thanks to the still prevailing ignorance and lack of diagnostic facilities in small towns of Uttar Pradesh.
Though, the girl has been finally treated for the actual ailment, not before an embarrassment that lasted for one long year.
It all started a year ago, when the women from Barabanki – 25 kilometres from Lucknow – first suffered a stomachache. Local doctors, not much aware of the complication she was going through, gave her painkillers, but to no effect.
As days passed, and in absence of proper treatment, the young girl’s stomach became increasingly bloated. Not only did she have to bear the pain but also the stigma due to the rumours about her pregnancy. In fact, at times, she would avoid medical consultation fearing embarrassment.
After a year of failed diagnoses in her town, it was at the Lucknow-based Balrampur government hospital that doctors found out what it exactly was–tumour weighing about 11.5 kg. Luckily for her and the family, the girl is on way to recovery after the tumour was removed.
“She was brought here in the first week of October,” said Dr BKS Chauhan, medical superintendent of the Balrampur Hospital.
The tests revealed that she had an ovarian tumour. Consequently, a surgery was conducted by a team of doctors who found that the tumour weighed about 11.5 kilograms – rare in an unmarried girl of her age.
“Thankfully she was diagnosed in time and is recovering fast,” doctors said.
