Published: 07:52 AM, 24 July 2026
Evercare Chattogram achieves Bangladesh first in brain cancer care
Evercare Hospital Chattogram has achieved a major milestone in Bangladesh's healthcare sector by successfully treating an 18-year-old patient with a complex malignant brainstem glioma while the patient remained on mechanical ventilator support throughout a full course of radiotherapy.
Hospital authorities announced the achievement at a press briefing on Tuesday, describing it as the first successful case in Bangladesh in which 30 sessions of radiotherapy were completed for a critically ill brain cancer patient receiving active life support, according to a press release.
The patient had long been battling the aggressive brainstem tumour, but his condition deteriorated rapidly, causing weakness on the left side of his body, difficulty speaking, repeated breathing complications and swallowing problems. His family sought treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where he suffered acute cardiorespiratory failure and was placed on mechanical ventilation. As further treatment could not continue there, he was brought back to Bangladesh in critical condition.
After admission to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Evercare Hospital Chattogram, Dr. Bhaskar Chakraborty, Visiting Consultant in Medical and Radiation Oncology, led a multidisciplinary team that decided to begin radiotherapy despite the patient remaining on life support—a highly complex and technically demanding procedure rarely undertaken.
The patient successfully completed all 30 radiotherapy sessions under continuous ICU care. Through coordinated treatment involving oncology, critical care and rehabilitation specialists, he was gradually weaned off the ventilator, had his tracheostomy and feeding tubes removed, regained the ability to swallow normally and began walking with the support of a walker. Follow-up contrast MRI fusion imaging also showed significant tumour improvement.
"Delivering radiotherapy in a complete ICU setting while the patient was on ventilator support was an extraordinary medical challenge," Dr. Chakraborty said. "Successfully completing the treatment and sending the patient home breathing independently is one of our team's greatest achievements."
Director of Medical Services Dr. Hassan Shahriar Kabir said the success demonstrates that world-class complex cancer care can now be delivered in Bangladesh through timely clinical decisions, advanced technology and multidisciplinary teamwork.
Chief Operating Officer Samir Singh echoed the sentiment, saying the achievement reflects the hospital's growing capability to manage highly complex cancer cases without patients needing to seek treatment abroad.
The life-saving treatment involved specialists from medical and radiation oncology, intensive care, internal medicine, respiratory medicine, cardiology, ENT, physiotherapy, nutrition and nursing. The patient's family expressed gratitude to the entire medical team for their coordinated efforts in helping the young patient recover and return home.
