Bhaskar Majumdar had never walked into a hospital and rarely visited a doctor. But his blood cancer diagnosis gave him an intimate understanding of the healthcare system and has included life-saving treatment in four hospitals, across two states.
When 62-year-old Bhaskar went in for his annual medical check-up, his doctor said everything looked fine and his tests results were normal. It was November 2021.
But after he received a booster vaccine for Covid two months later, he began experiencing fevers and stomach upsets. Bhaskar returned to his GP and was told it could be Covid or a viral infection. His doctor advised him to wait a while and prescribed two rounds of antibiotics.
Three months later, Bhaskar was still struggling and called an after-hours doctor who visited him at home. The doctor recommended Bhaskar go to the emergency department the next day to see if he could get some answers.
“I went the next morning and it took a bit of time to get in. They did a blood test and said my white blood cell count was 300 times that of a normal person,” he recalls.
“The doctor in charge said, ‘Bhaskar, I have got some very sad news for you. You have leukaemia and I know you will go through some terrible times for the next six months, at least. You will have to go through chemotherapy and other things. But keep in mind this is treatable’.”
His local hospital didn’t have a haematology department so Bhaskar was transferred by ambulance to Canberra Hospital for specialist treatment.
A newfound appreciation for healthcare workers
“The first few days were really tough. Every day there were new tests and a lot of new information,” Bhaskar recalls.
The tests revealed he had early stage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), an aggressive type of blood cancer.
To help prepare his body for treatment, Bhaskar was given various medications and fluids. Unfortunately, a complication meant his body became overloaded with fluid and this resulted in severe breathing difficulties. Bhaskar was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) for three days and he gained a deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the doctors and nurses who provided his care.
“When you are in the system, you really appreciate the people around you and the services that they provide. It was really amazing for me,” he says.
When he recovered, Bhaskar was transferred to a haematology ward and advised he would require a stem cell transplant to treat his blood cancer.
The search for a donor and another hospital
Doctors initially looked at close family members to identify a suitable donor match.
Bhaskar’s two daughters, Urvi and Medha, and his nephew Dripto were tested, and a search of the International Donor Registry was also conducted. Doctors decided Urvi was the best match. Although Bhaskar received his chemotherapy treatment in Canberra, doctors advised he would need to relocate to Sydney or Melbourne for the stem cell transplant.
He would transfer to Melbourne for a haploidentical stem cell transplant. This uses stem cells from someone who is a half-match to your DNA such as a parent, sibling or child.
In the lead up to his transplant, Bhaskar visited the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne for treatment and tests. During this time, after undergoing a bone marrow biopsy, he suffered a mild heart attack. Further investigations revealed Bhaskar’s heart muscles had been weakened by the chemotherapy treatment. Doctors decided to delay the stem cell transplant by a few months to allow him time to recover.
Meanwhile, Urvi prepared for the stem cell donation with daily injections over five days to enable her cells to be collected three weeks before the transplant.
Bhaskar was admitted to his fourth healthcare facility, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, in mid-December 2022 and underwent his transplant on Christmas Day.
“I didn’t have to do much. I was just lying down and watching all the others being busy,” he recalls.
“Once you receive it, the only thing that crosses your mind is the chance of graft versus host disease which many patients face. So that is the anxiety we lived with.”
A home away from home
Over the next few months, Bhaskar and his family stayed in a self-contained apartment in the nearby Leukaemia Foundation Blood Cancer Centre. This accommodation is provided free-of-charge (when available) to people with blood cancer and their loved ones.
Thanks to generous community support, families like Bhaskar’s can access accommodation in cities across Australia – wherever treatment takes them.
“If we didn’t have the accommodation available to us close to the hospital, it would have been a really different story,” Bhaskar says.
Learn more about accommodation at our Blood Cancer Centres.
During their stay, Bhaskar and his family also met other people experiencing blood cancer.
“We saw the lives of so many other people who are going through this journey. You are left feeling very humbled and think what you are going through is perhaps very mild,” he says.
“People go through so many challenges, so don’t feel you are facing the worst of the lot. There are other people who face so many more problems than yourself.”
Post-transplant complications make life difficult
While the transplant procedure was uneventful, Bhaskar experienced several complications afterwards and more time in ICU.
“I had no idea I would face so many difficulties after the stem cell transplant. Perhaps this is an area that more patients need to be aware of,” he says. “Graft versus host disease is not the only potential side-effect you may experience.”
Learn more about stem cell transplants.
Unfortunately, Bhaskar contracted two lung infections and eventually needed the top of his right lung removed. This continues to negatively impact his breathing today.
“After the surgery, I was okay for two months or so, but then I had another severe chest infection and ended up in ICU again. I was put on life support for one week with a ventilator,” he says.
“When I came out, all my muscles had become so weak that I couldn’t stand or even sit up in bed. I had to gradually try to recover from there. Even now, I have weakness in my knees and legs.”
He is also experiencing other side-effects caused by therapies and medications, including food sensitivities.
Working through it all
Bhaskar continued working as much as possible throughout his treatment and used it to help create a routine and a purpose for each day. His job also allowed him to work fully remotely from his laptop.
“Whether I was in hospital or at home, I always tried to keep working. The doctors said one of the major challenges people face, especially men, is as soon as they have cancer, they think they have to give up work.”
“And once they give up their work, they are in a desperate situation and don’t know what to do because they’re always thinking about their illness.
“I never thought about cancer. Whatever came through, I dealt with it that day. And the next day I would be back into my work and trying to do whatever I can. It’s not that I was 100% all the time, but my employer supported me. I have been allowed to work from home and relocate myself to Melbourne.”
“If I have to start work at 8 or 8.30, I have to get up, have a wash, get ready, have breakfast and be ready for it. Being engaged with something is really important because otherwise you can be drowning in your own sorrows and worrying more than is really necessary.”
Learn more about returning to work following a diagnosis or treatment.
Family is everything
Bhaskar’s strong family bonds have made an incredible difference to his blood cancer experience.
“My family have really put their lives on the line, so to speak, supporting me at each and every step,” he says.
“My wife, Sruti, has cared for me every moment. She and my younger daughter, Medha, have taken turns to be with me throughout this journey.”
His daughter Urvi has also been by his side and provided life-saving support through her stem cell donation. Her father’s experience with blood cancer also led her to become to become an Ambassador for the Leukaemia Foundation.
“It has been a fight that we have fought together. I didn’t do anything alone. All of us have contributed to this game,” Bhaskar says.
Bhaskar’s journey continues
Unfortunately, after a short break from taking leukaemia suppressant medication, Bhaskar’s cancer cells began reappearing. Doctors advised him to recommence the medication in May 2025 and he continues to experience treatment side effects including portal hypertension (reduced blood flow to his liver) and a hiatal hernia (part of his stomach has pushed through the diaphragm into his chest).
This article shares personal experiences and general information. For tailored advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
Listen to the full interview with Bhaskar and Urvi Majumdar on our Talking Blood Cancer Podcast.
