Born With a Tumor Pressing Against Her Lung, This Baby Girl Underwent Life-Saving Surgery at Just 12 Days Old

Before she was even born, doctors discovered that a baby girl in India had a large tumor growing from her chest. The mass was so extensive that it surrounded parts of her ribs and shoulder bone, putting severe pressure on her left lung.

Her family faced an uncertain beginning, knowing their daughter could need urgent treatment as soon as she arrived. Just 12 days after birth, the newborn underwent a complex operation that would give her a chance to grow beyond those frightening first days.

A Serious Problem Before Birth

The baby was from Agartala, in the northeastern Indian state of Tripura. Her parents were expecting their first child when routine prenatal screening revealed a large mass on the baby’s chest.

Further imaging at Narayana Hospital Howrah in West Bengal showed how extensive the tumor had become. It arose from the chest wall, involved the ribs on the left side and extended toward the shoulder bone. Most concerningly, it was severely compressing the left lung.

Doctors feared that the mass could cause life-threatening breathing complications after delivery. A specialist team was assembled to prepare for the birth and the intensive care the baby might need.

A Newborn Facing a Life-Threatening Challenge

The medical team successfully delivered the baby girl, but she developed respiratory distress. The tumor was interfering with her ability to breathe normally, and the doctors had to balance the urgency of treatment with the need to stabilize such a young patient.

The surgical team monitored her for 11 days while preparing for the operation. Every decision required careful coordination among pediatric surgeons, newborn specialists, obstetricians, anesthesiologists and intensive-care staff.

For her parents, those first days meant waiting while specialists worked to give their daughter the best possible chance.

Surgery on the 12th Day of Life

When the baby was 12 days old, the surgical team proceeded with the operation. Pediatric surgeon Dr. Goutam Chakraborty explained that the doctors removed the portion of the tumor responsible for compressing the lung and causing breathing difficulties.

After surgery, the baby required ventilatory support and intensive care. A biopsy identified the mass as congenital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancerous tumor involving soft tissue associated with the chest wall and muscles.

According to Narayana Health’s chief oncopathologist, only around 15 to 20 cases of this type of tumor in newborns had been reported worldwide, as cited in the newspaper’s report. Its rarity made the coordinated work of the specialist team particularly important.

A Hopeful Recovery

Gradually, the little girl began to improve. She was discharged after approximately two weeks in the hospital and returned home to Agartala, where she continued to receive medical follow-up.

At a subsequent check-up reported in July 2026, doctors said she was gaining weight and growing well. The outcome was encouraging for a baby who had faced a potentially life-threatening complication almost immediately after birth.

However, her treatment journey was not necessarily over. Doctors explained that she might need another operation or chemotherapy in the future, depending on her progress and the risk of the cancer returning.

Why Continued Follow-Up Matters

Congenital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is an uncommon and serious diagnosis, particularly in a newborn. Treatment must aim to control the cancer while protecting the organs and tissues that are still developing.

The baby’s progress offered her family a reason to hope, but her doctors emphasized the importance of regular reviews. Continued monitoring would help them detect any recurrence and decide whether further treatment was necessary.

At only 12 days old, this little girl had already undergone a major operation. Her story is a powerful reminder of the role that early diagnosis, specialist teamwork and careful follow-up can play when a newborn faces an extraordinary medical challenge.

Source: The Times of India, July 3, 2026.