Former home minister R R Patil is recovering from oncology treatment: Bandra hospital

Former home minister R R Patil is recovering from oncology treatment: Bandra hospital

 Lilavati Hospital's doctors on Monday confirmed that former home minister RR Patil is battling cancer, but is stable. Visitors who thronged the hospital last week to wish him speedy recovery probably ended up complicating his condition, said an NCP source. Patil, who is undergoing treatment for oral cancer at the Bandra hospital, developed an infection after meeting nearly 300 visitors, said the source. The hospital, which has formed a team of experts to chart his treatment course, shifted him to ICU, where he has been for five days.

"When visitors met him last week, there was also physical contact as that is a way of showing respect. He developed an infection soon after. Moving him to ICU was more to protect him from developing new infections," said the party source. Patil eventually developed breathing difficulties and had to be put on ventilator. He continues to breathe with ventilator help, the source said, adding that he is not fully conscious.

"Patil has an advanced form of oral cancer for which he underwent surgery last year at Breach Candy Hospital. The disease is at a stage involving the lymph nodes," said the source. "Lilavati Hospital has gone out of its way to allow the Patil family to consult the best experts from across the city."

The doctors treating him did not wish to divulge any details about the treatment barring the fact that Patil was being treated with the best of antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs. Patil's wife, brother and two daughters are at his side.

While, his party members said his condition continues to be serious, an official statement from the hospital said he was stable. "He is improving. There is no cause for concern. He is under treatment for cancer and radiation is over. He is undergoing chemotherapy and is responding well," said a spokesperson of Lilavati Hospital. Patil finished his radiotherapy at Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Lilavati, where he is said to have responded well to the first round.

Oral cancers account for the highest cancer-related mortality among men aged 30-69 years in India. The risk of cancer is found to be higher among women. Studies show that the leading sites of cancer are lungs, oesophagus and stomach among men and cervix, breast and oral cavity among women.