Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur was diagnosed with cancer in 2011

LUCKNOW: Malegaon blast-accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who is BJP ’s pick for Bhopal, had claimed that gaumutra (cow urine) had cured her of cancer. Her surgeon is not so sure.

Dr S S Rajput, who heads the cardiothoracic and vascular surgery (CTVS) department at Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow, said Pragya opted for surgery to prevent recurrence of malignancy after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2011.

“I have operated upon her thrice – in 2008, 2011 and 2017 — to check spread of cancer in her body,” Dr Rajput told TOI. On Sadhvi’s claim of gaumutra’s healing power, he said: “It is a matter of her faith. When she asked me about gaumutra, I told her there was no harm, but I cannot comment on its benefits. I also told her it was her faith, luck and decision.”

Dr Rajput is unsure when Sadhvi began consuming gaumutra. “I only know her father was a renowned ayurveda practitioner,” he said. The doctor recalled his first interaction with Pragya in 2008. “Prison authorities brought her to JJ Hospital, Mumbai, where I was an empanelled doctor. In due course, a lump was identified in the upper quadrant of her right breast, which was removed. Lab reports suggested the lump was benign,” he said. In 2011, the surgical site developed swelling and she suffered pain. “She reached out to me again. I surgically removed two-thirds of her right breast. Samples was sent for microscopic assessment and grade one, but aggressive breast cancer was confirmed thereafter,” he stated.

The third surgery was performed at RML Institute, Lucknow, in July 2017 after the Malegaon blast accused was out on bail. “Evaluations revealed resurgence of precancerous lumps in both the breasts. Accordingly, a preventive and prophylactic procedure (bilateral mastectomy), was planned. In this, tissues in both breasts were removed to minimise chances of cancer relapse,” he said, stating he cannot divulge more details.

Dr Rajput said Sadhvi was kept under her observation and was evaluated in January 2019. “When she came to Lucknow during Kumbh, we got all her tests done and reports indicated there was no residual cancer in her body,” he said.

Would Sadhvi Pragya have survived if she didn’t go for surgical intervention? Dr Rajput said: “By and large, life expectancy of any cancer patient, including Sadhvi Pragya is not more than 3-5 years without swift and adequate treatment. Sadhvi meticulously followed instructions and she is fine.”

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