NEW DELHI:
Yuvraj Singh
, who played a stellar role in India's ODI
World Cup
triumph last year, has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing
chemotherapy
in the
United States
, his
physiotherapist
said on Sunday.
The 30-year-old left-hander has been in the US since last month being treated for what was earlier claimed to be a tumour in the lungs, by his family.
But it has now been diagnosed as malignant and Yuvraj is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the
Cancer Research Institute in Boston
, his physiotherapist Dr
Jatin Chaudhary
said.
Dr Chaudhary however, assured that the ailment is curable and the batsman would be fit to resume cricket in May. His mother
Shabnam Singh
could not be reached while his father, former cricketer Yograj refused comments on the matter.
"It is a rare tumour and is cancerous but it has been detected in stage one itself. Doctors had to decide whether to continue medication or go for chemotherapy but since parts of the tumour are just above the artery of his heart, there was a danger that while running it could burst. But it is 100 per cent curable," Chaudhary said.
"It is not life threatening or career-threatening and it responds very well to chemotherapy. By the grace of God it was detected early and there is nothing to be scared of.
"The doctors decided that he would have to undergo chemotherapy and he travelled to the US on January 26. End of March, he would undergo a CT scan and should recover by then. After that it is just some rehabilitation in April before he is fit to be back on the field in May," he added.
Yuvraj, who was Player of the Tournament in the World Cup last year with 362 runs, 15 wickets and four Man-of-the-Match awards, has also been taking ayurvedic medicines to battle the disease.
"After ayurvedic treatment, only three cycles of chemotherapy are required. Initially when the cancer was diagnosed after a biopsy in October end, doctors feared that the treatment would be six cycles of chemotherapy," Chaudhary said.
"After the third cycle, he would need 30 to 45 days to be back. Mentally he is very positive. His friends and family are there with him and the blessings of his Guruji are also with him. Thankfully no surgery is required, he is already a lot better than what he was and can't wait to be back on the cricket field," he added.
Chaudhary said the detection of cancer was delayed by wrong diagnosis by an Indian hospital.
"His first biopsy report was stolen from his car and the second from a hospital, I don't want to name, did not give the correct diagnosis. It was a Russian doctor who detected the cancer and after consultations with the doctors in US, it was decided that Yuvraj would undergo chemotherapy," he said.
Meanwhile, the BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla said that the Board was aware of Yuvraj's ailment and has been extending full support.
"We are concerned about his health and we wish him a speedy recovery. We hope that he will regain full fitness and comeback," Shukla said.
Yuvraj's teammate, paceman S Sreesanth also wished him a speedy recovery.
"It's sad to hear Yuvraj's ailment. Health is very important and I wish him very speedy recovery."
Tennis player Rohan Bopanna, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah also wished him speedy recovery.
Yuvraj has played 37 Tests, scoring 1775 runs at an average of 34.80.
He has 8051 runs at an average of 37.62 from his 274-match ODI career, the highlight of which was his stellar role in India's World Cup triumph last year.
In 23 Twenty20s, Yuvraj has scored 567 runs at 31.50.
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