Hodgkin's lymphoma patient scores 91pc in 10th boards

Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread. As the disease progresses, it compromises the body's ability to fight infection. Sixteen-year-old Bodhisattva Mandal, however, is determined not to let it get in the way of his aspirations and has scored 91 percent in his class 10 examinations under the West Bengal board.

Hailing from West Bengal, Bodhisattva's passion for becoming an oncologist has kept him motivated. Right now, he is preparing for a bone marrow transplant in Mumbai.

Speaking to IANS, his father Manoranjan Mandal said,

He laments that he couldn't score a perfect 100 in mathematics. He scored 98. His one constant thought is to study more and he wants to treat the disease by becoming a specialist. He was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2013 when he was in class seven. That same year he was pronounced free of the disease after a series of chemotherapy sessions in Mumbai's Tata Memorial Hospital. We used to take him to Mumbai every three months for check-ups. He is a good student and he never let cancer get in the way of being an achiever. We wanted to take him to Mumbai for a check-up but he wanted to devote time to prepare for his upcoming board (Madhyamik) exams. Again in February this year, two days before the start of the exams, he came down with high fever. This time it hovered around 103 degree Fahrenheit and he appeared for all the papers in that condition, such was his will to study.

In December 2016, Bodhisattva suffered from a bout of high fever. Within days of the exams getting over, the anxious Mandals made a rushed trip to Bodhisattva's doctors in Mumbai. The doctors ran several tests and identified that the cancer was relapsing and was spreading all over, all to determine that he has to go through eight chemotherapy session and a necessary bone marrow transplant.

In his chat with IANS, Manoranjan said,

Today (on Monday) he is preparing for the bone marrow transplant. Since it is autologous (the donor is the patient himself or herself), the stem cells are being harvested from him today. He is mentally strong and will bear any pain to get rid of the disease. His school, Naktala High School, is very supportive. I want my son to fulfil his dreams just like the other students. He is battling death but is so full of life and zest. I urge the public to come forward,

Manoranjan earns around Rs 8,000 per month has humbly requested the public to help his son with donations.

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