HCG Cancer Centre, Bangalore, gave a new lease of life to a 28-day-old baby girl battling Infantile Fibrosarcoma, one of the rarest soft-tissue cancers seen in newborns. 

The baby was born at another hospital with a small swelling on her right forearm that grew alarmingly within days into a massive tumour measuring 11.3 cm × 9.8 cm, engulfing her tiny forearm and hand. She had already been evaluated at multiple hospitals, where amputation was suggested as the only option, leaving her parents devastated. 

HCG Cancer Centre Bangalore, a multidisciplinary team of over 14–16 super-specialists, supported by engineers and advanced planning technologies, combined their expertise to deliver a life-saving and limb-preserving treatment worth around Rs. 30–35 lakhs. Knowing the family was struggling financially, the hospital reached out for help, and friends, well-wishers, and the HCG team stepped in, contributing funds and support.

When the baby was brought to HCG, she was in a critical condition, with low haemoglobin, functional compromise of the limb, and a rapidly growing, fungating mass. 

Dr. Pramod S Chinder, Director and Head - Orthopaedic Oncology, along with Dr Sunil Kumar H R, HOD Anaesthetist, and the plastic and reconstructive surgery team conducted a detailed assessment. 

The tumour was found to surround major blood vessels and nerves, making the limb extremely fragile and the surgery exceptionally high-risk. Genomic testing revealed an NTRK gene fusion, a rare genetic alteration that drives the rapid growth of cancer, with an incidence of just 0.3 per 100,000 population. 

Dr. Pramod S Chinder said, "To encounter Infantile Fibrosarcoma, an aggressive tumour covering the right forearm and half the hand in a 28-day-old infant, is to face a battle for life itself. This was a race against time and extreme tissue fragility, where only a multidisciplinary approach and molecular precision could prevail.”

"Dr. Sunil's expertise was instrumental in navigating the physiological fragility of the 28-day-old patient, ensuring hemodynamic stability and continuous, nuanced support that made the high-risk surgery possible,” added Dr Chinder. 

Manisha Kumar, COO, Karnataka, HCG Cancer Hospitals, said, “While our clinical teams successfully preserved both the life and limb of this newborn, the unwavering support from our foundations, staff, well-wishers, and the community ensured that financial challenges never stood in the way of treatment.”