The surgical anger
Updated On: 12 October, 2025 06:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Dr Mazda Turel
I understand that science does not have all the answers, but I would respect the ones it does
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I remember patients more by the geography of their brain tumour than by the topography of their face. Vivek’s tumour was in the left insula — an island of brain nestled between the frontal and temporal lobes — a place that processes emotion, sensation, and awareness. I operated on him in January of 2020. The tumour was excised immaculately, but as it was grade 3, radiation and chemotherapy were mandatory for a decent outcome.
“We’ll skip the radiation and chemotherapy,” the elder brother told me a few weeks after surgery. “He’s absolutely fine and has already gone back to his job,” he reasoned. Vivek was 22 years old at the time, a bright computer engineer with a full crop of hair that we had delicately preserved during the operation. “Why would you do such a thing?” I fumed. “This is our best chance at controlling the tumour; otherwise, it’ll come back for sure,” I warned them, the way you warn someone in Mumbai that the streets are likely to flood on a monsoon day even if the sun is shining at the moment. “The elders in the family have consulted with Babaji and they want him to try some alternative medicine,” he argued. “I’ve spent 6 hours operating on this tumour, removing every visible cell under the microscope and preserving all his functions, and I know for a fact that this tumour will come back,” I tried to explain. “We understand, doctor, and we thank you for doing what you did, but we have instructions from a higher order,” they folded their hands and left.
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