New Delhi: Feb 6, 2012
The doctors, who had earlier treated Yuvraj Singh, on Monday denied that he is suffering from lung cancer, saying that the malignant tumour is located in space between the two lungs and not inside it.
Yuvraj has been diagnosed with extragonadal seminoma, a rare tumour is in the mediastinum, the space between the two lungs and above the heart that Dr Nikesh Rohtagi, oncologist with Max HealthCare Saket, who is heading the India team of doctors looking into his case, claim is curable.
“He has a condition called extragonadal seminoma located between his two lungs rather than in his lungs. It is important to understand that this is not lung cancer nor has the tumor spread into lungs. Extragonadal seminoma is a rare tumor which forms less than one per cent of cancers in the whole,” said the doctor.
“The cure rate is 95 per cent,” he added.
The 30-year-old Yuvraj is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the United States of America. The mediastinum is the middle section of the chest cavity. It contains all of the chest organs except the lungs.
Organs located in the mediastinum include the heart, the aorta, the thymus gland, the chest portion of the trachea, the esophagus, lymph nodes and important nerves.
Citing reasons for the occurance of this rare cancer, he said, “This cancer is called seminoma as it is a cancer of the testis. But since in Yuvi’s case it has started from the chest, such a condition is called extragonadal seminoma. It is generally found in young men.”
Dr Rohtagi said that chemotherapy is the best treatment for such cancers.
In Yuvraj’s case the cure has been planned with the aim to ensure that he can return to full fitness and resume his cricketing career, he said.
“Hopefully he would be on the field by first week of May. Yuvraj should be able to start active training in about ten weeks.”
Meanwhile, on February 8 Yuvraj will begin the third of his nine weeks of chemotherapy in the USA.
Elaborating on the treatment Dr Rohtagi said that the chemotherapy is the best treatment for such tumours as it completely erases the tumour in a short span of time.
As expected in the first few days Yuvraj did not feel very good, he felt nauseous but starting this week he will be hopefully on the mend, he said.
Doctors said that Yuvraj has shown tremendous courage and has kept his spirits high all this while.
“…He has been reading; has read Lance Armstrong’s books and is playing video games, going for long walks and sometimes jogging. He is committed to his therapy and recovery.”
Lance Edward Armstrong, the former professional road racing cyclist, won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, having survived testicular cancer.
After being diagnosed of cancer in 1996, he went on to win the Tour de France each year from 1999 to 2005, and is the only person to win seven times, having broken the previous record of five wins.
Citing reasons for undergoing treatment at a hospital in USA, Dr Rohtagi said, “The USA based team has specially been chosen because of the vast experiences with sportsmen and they have many positive outcomes, more importantly seen the athletes return to the field.” (PTI)
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