Dr. Jalaj Baxi’s Patient Shaka Ajanlekoko from Africa Shares Her Cancer Survivor Story in India

When she was 38, Shaka Ajanlekoko received a frightening diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Taking the advice of her physician in Africa, Shaka sought care halfway around the globe with Dr. Jalaj Baxi the top oncosurgeon in Fortis hospital Noida. Today, she's cancer-free.

“I was a young mother and wife living in Kenya, Africa, when abdominal symptoms first struck her seven years ago. When I had it first bout of pancreatitis in July 2011, I was 38 years old and had a 1-month-old infant. For the next two years, the disease and its symptoms — abdominal and back pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever — wreaked havoc on my life.  I experienced a type of abdominal pain that was new. A sharp, sudden pain was accompanied by hours of severe vomiting. It came on slowly and didn’t intensify when I ate or drank. I soon learned it wasn't the pancreatitis. This pain was caused by a cancerous growth that had taken root in her pancreas. I consulted with my gastroenterologist in Kenya, and I learned that my cancer required immediate surgery. The episode sent me to a local emergency, where I learned I had acute pancreatitis. I spent nearly two weeks in the hospital receiving treatment. He presented m with three treatment options for the operation, known as the Whipple procedure. I could have the conventional, open abdominal surgery in Africa, receive that same surgery, or travel to India and receive the surgery laparoscopically.

My hospitalization marked the beginning of a medical journey that lasted for years and led me through a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.   Soon enough I started searching for other option outside my country and a family friend recommended looking for options in India. After my intense search on Google one named kept on pooping up with his patients testimony was Dr. Jalaj Baxi best laparoscopic oncosurgeon in India. I started my consultation on the phone with him to discus my situation with a representative. After that first conversation, I decided I was going ahead to him, on the phone I gave him all of the relevant information he needed so he could get me an appointment quickly. Many patients from African countries such as Nigeria and Kenya come in large numbers to receive cancer treatment to Dr Baxi, seeking better infrastructure and more advanced treatment therapies who want more affordable traditional treatment options. Due to a lack of public health infrastructure in Africa, a lack of qualified expert oncologists, and vested commercial interests, many patients end up receiving one-size-fits-all "recommendations" from him.

Less than a week later, I was in India at Fortis hospital Noida, where I was admitted to the hospital. Although Dr. Jalaj Baxi and his medical team were eager to move forward with my treatment, imaging revealed that not only was the tumor large, but she also had developed a blood clot in a vessel near the pancreas. The clot needed to be treated before doctor could perform the operation. I was put on blood thinners and informed that I would need to begin chemotherapy immediately. The benefit is that it’s harder on cancer cells but the side effects of the chemotherapy were tough to take. In addition to receiving radiation therapy, I received more chemotherapy when the treatment was complete; my medical team regrouped and began discussing surgery once more. This time, before coming, we did CT scans and sent them to Dr. Jalaj Baxi. He said everything looked fine and fixed the surgery date for the week later. 

My surgery at Fortis hospital Noida involved removing one-third of my pancreas, the bile duct, the gall bladder, and the duodenum, or top part of my small intestine. The organs were removed, and then he used the intestine to hook everything back together. Although it’s still major surgery, performing the procedure laparoscopically eases recovery significantly. I had six tiny incisions, about one-half inch in size, and they have almost no pain.  The cancer was removed, as were several lymph nodes. Although I still required follow-up treatment to make sure all cancer cells were eliminated, the surgery was a success. Everything went really well as Dr. Jalaj Baxi is a world leader with this kind of surgery. He has the most experience and has advanced the technique in many ways, including use for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

I was discharged from the hospital five days after surgery. At my one-month follow-up appointment, I was cleared to go home. Back in Africa I had additional chemotherapy treatments. With all my treatment now complete, looking back, I am amazed I came through my cancer treatment. I think I probably survived because the diagnosis was made early, and the surgery was done laparoscopically, so I was able to receive the chemotherapy more quickly after surgery. For as difficult as my journey was, the outcome is remarkable. Today, I am cancer-free. I attribute my good health to the support of Dr. Jalaj Baxi best oncosurgeon in India and his medical team at Fortis hospital Noida, Thank you all.”

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