“I became a doctor to treat people, to ease their pain and give them hope in their most difficult moments. I never imagined that one day I would be the one lying in a hospital bed, fighting cancer myself. Today I feel helpless, but I don’t want to give up—I want to live, I need to get through this for my family.”— Dr. Atul Kumar

Dr. Atul Kumar, a young MBBS doctor from Moradabad, was working in a private hospital while preparing for his postgraduate exams when he began experiencing persistent abdominal pain in September 2025. After initial misdiagnosis, further scans revealed gastric cancer, and surgery was scheduled. But just days before the operation, his pregnant wife faced a serious complication and had to deliver their baby prematurely at 6.5 months. Their newborn remained in the NICU for over a month, forcing Atul to stay by her side and miss his own cancer surgery. By the time he returned for treatment, the cancer had already spread.

‘I haven’t been able to hold my young baby properly…I am that weak’

Today, Atul is undergoing aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy every 15 days and immunotherapy every 21 days. The treatment has taken a severe toll on his body. He has lost over 20 kilograms, suffers from painful mouth ulcers, and often cannot eat for days. Weakness has left him almost bedridden, unable to carry out even basic tasks on his own.

“The treatment is necessary, but it takes everything out of me. I am not able to do anything on my own, and that makes me feel guilty as a father and a husband. I have not been able to hold or cuddle or even change the diapers of my new baby. I am filled with pain but I still hold on because I want to recover and return to the life I had planned.” — Dr. Atul Kumar

‘With no income and mounting costs, the family is struggling to stay afloat’

Atul lives in a joint family with his wife, two children, and elderly parents. His mother suffers from diabetes, hypertension, and has had a heart attack in the past, while his father, now retired, supports the entire household through a limited railway pension. The financial burden has been too much. The family has already spent over ₹10 lakhs on Atul’s treatment and ₹8.5 lakhs on their newborn’s medical care. Now, they are surviving on borrowed money and loans, struggling even to pay their elder daughter’s school fees. 

“There are moments when my wife tries to stay strong for the children, but I can see the fear and exhaustion in her eyes. We support each other through this, but the uncertainty of the future is always there. I just want to get better, stand on my own feet again, and take care of my family. Please help me.” — Dr. Atul Kumar

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