Just weeks after celebrating his 60th birthday in July this year, veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He underwent successful robotic surgery in August to remove a cancerous prostate, which he said was a “turning point” in his life.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, especially older men, in India, and has a five-year survival rate if detected early.
In his weekly video vlog, “Straight Bat with Rajdeep Sardesai”, the journalist shared an emotional account of his battle with cancer and said that this year has been life-changing for him.
‘cancer? ‘Me?’: Rajdeep Sardesai’s first reaction to diagnosis
Rajdeep Sardesai shared that he was informed about this diagnosis from his doctor through a WhatsApp message. In complete shock, the journalist said she looked at the text “without blinking” several times before thinking in her mind: “Cancer? Me? How? Why?”
Sardesai said he had no major history, nor any symptoms indicating any impending health crisis, but a routine medical checkup followed by a fusion biopsy, which revealed the malignant tumor.
“A planned holiday to watch the exciting, interesting India-England Test series was now turning into an unsettling heat of growing nervousness and apprehension of the unknown,” he recalled, describing the mix of emotions he was feeling at the time, particularly self-pity.
“The C word somehow still creates anxiety and can even be frightening,” he said.
How did Rajdeep Sardesai fight cancer?
Rajdeep Sardesai revealed that it was his surgeon son’s reassurance that helped him find some perspective.
“If you have cancer, Dad, the prostate is probably the best treatment. It heals slowly and is curable,” his son told him.
Over the next few weeks, the journalist said, while talking to experts and undergoing a series of tests for cancer, he learned about the stories of other cancer survivors, which gave him strength to combat the disease.
What is prostate cancer?
According to the Mayo Clinic, prostate cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the prostate, a small gland that is part of the male reproductive system that helps make semen.
Early symptoms of prostate cancer:
The Mayo Clinic said early-stage prostate cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms, but when they do, early-stage prostate cancer symptoms include:
