NEET Success Story of Cancer Survivor Maulik Patel:
No matter what life throws at me, giving up is never an option... To win, you must maintain hope and think of victory. In 2022, I faced a storm that changed my life forever, one that I'll likely never forget. Being an only child, the shock of my diagnosis was immense. It all started with pain during urination. Sonography revealed a tumor, and a biopsy confirmed it was cancer. I was in 11th grade then, and the medical journey that unfolded eventually concluded in April this year. Throughout this, I remained positive and focused on moving forward. I defeated cancer first and then aced my exams. This is Maulik Patel's recount, who battled the atrocious disease of cancer while preparing for the board and NEET exams and secured outstanding marks.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has recently announced the results for NEET UG, one of the country's toughest exams. Maulik scored an incredible 715 out of 720 points. He also achieved 94.67 percent in the Maharashtra State Board examinations. Maulik's family resides in Ghatkopar, Mumbai.
When Cancer was Discovered
In May 2022, Maulik started noticing changes in his body. He shared with the AajTak team that initially, it was just weakness and fever along with urination pain, which he mistook for common symptoms. Living in a hostel, a roommate informed his family about his condition. After ultrasounds and other tests, a 10-centimeter tumor was discovered near his urination bladder. The CT scan and biopsy revealed 'Sarcoma', a form of cancer. The crushing news hit the family hard, especially since Maulik was an only child and so young to be afflicted with such a severe illness.
Source: aajtak
Days Filled with Fear and Pain
Maulik underwent his first surgery in June 2022. He knew about the cancer but was unaware of the operation's extent. A major concern was the potential removal of the urination bladder during surgery, but thankfully, it wasn't necessary. Following the surgery, chemotherapy sessions began, each taking 3-4 hours daily with side effects like constipation and hair loss. By October 2022, three chemotherapy sessions were completed. Another check-up showed a remaining 4-centimeter tumor.
Cancer Forced the Postponement of My 12ᵗʰ Grade and NEET Exams
The change in chemotherapy dosage lasted until December. During this, I even managed to take some tests conducted by Allen. In January, a check-up revealed the tumor had grown to 16 centimeters, accompanied by pain during urination. In January 2023, a second surgery was planned. Unfortunately, due to my health, I had to forgo the 12th grade board exams and NEET.
Study Sessions in the Hospital Waiting Room
After the second surgery, a February check-up showed a 10-centimeter tumor still present. The decision was made against radiation for such a large tumor, opting for more chemotherapy. By July 2023, 31 radiation sessions were completed. Testing in the second week of November 2023 showed a significant reduction in size. By December, my medications had concluded. During all this time, I constantly studied online, often waiting 3-4 hours at the hospital, yet I continued my studies regularly. It was the spirit of never giving up that enabled me to achieve 715 points out of 720 in NEET.
Aspiring to be an Oncologist and Help Cancer Patients
Declared cancer-free in April, I communicated with Allen to continue testing. I took my 12th grade exams and regularly participated in major tests, attempting as many mock tests as possible. Now, I aim to bring joy to the lives of cancer patients by becoming an oncologist, graduating from KVM Hospital Mumbai with my MBBS.
