Diagnosed: 2021 In remission since: 2022-11-25
I was diagnosed with colon cancer in November 2021. What followed was a nightmare that neither I nor my family could have imagined. I underwent four major surgeries, suffered three septic shocks, spent 40 days in the ICU and endured several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. My entire large intestine had to be removed and I was left with a permanent stoma. There were times when my survival was uncertain. It was an incredibly difficult period, not only for me but also for my wife Madhavi, my children Ankita and Aniket and my friends.
What kept me going was the incredible care and support of my family and friends, my passion for writing and storytelling and my belief in Managing Every Tumour With Humour. In November 2022, I was declared cancer-free. Life, however, has not returned to what it was before cancer. I continue to live with a permanent colostomy bag, an insulin pump and other health challenges. But I haven't allowed these challenges to stop me from doing what I love. I write every day, conduct storytelling sessions, deliver motivational talks, dance on stage and swim five days a week. On 3 October 2025, I was crowned Mr. India Cancer Warrior. For someone who had spent 40 days in the ICU fighting for his life, walking the ramp and winning that title was a moment I could never have imagined. Today, I continue to do what I enjoy most, sharing stories, connecting with people and celebrating life.
Lessons learned Cancer taught me that life is unpredictable and that everything we take for granted can change in an instant. Before cancer, I had always been an active person, busy with my writing, storytelling and public speaking. Suddenly, I found myself in an ICU, fighting for my life, completely dependent on others for even the simplest things. I realised how vulnerable we human beings are. I also discovered reserves of strength within myself that I never knew existed. Living with a permanent stoma has taught me that accepting a changed reality is not the same as surrendering to it. There are things I can no longer do in the way I once did, but there are many things I can still enjoy. Another important lesson was that recovery does not end when you are declared cancer-free. The physical and emotional consequences can remain with you for years. I continue to face health challenges, but I have learnt to live with them. Above all, I have realised that cancer is a part of my life story, but it is not my entire story. I was a writer and storyteller before cancer and I remain one today.
Advice to patients To anyone battling cancer or any other crisis, I would offer five suggestions: 1. Don't take yourself too seriously. Boil on the bum or your bum on the boil, try to see the ridiculous in the sublime. A sense of humour can make even the most difficult situations a little easier to bear. 2. Pursue a passion. It can be music, painting, gardening, reading, cooking et al. This will keep your mind occupied in a productive activity and help prevent negative thoughts and anxieties from invading your space. 3. Build relationships. In the rodent race called life, we often forget to forge and strengthen relationships. You have heard of the Anytime Money or ATM card. I have created a new card, the ATM or Anytime Memory Card. The most precious gift you can give your family and friends is not money or things which money can buy. It is a bundle of memories, each a gossamer fabric of fun and togetherness. And how is this fabric created? With two four-letter words: Love and Time. So go ahead and create memories and stock up your new ATM. Whenever there is a crisis, 'encash' it. 4. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is defined as living in the moment. I found my mindfulness in my writing. During the hours I devote to my creativity every day, I am living life to the fullest. 5. Be optimistic. This attitude will have a cascading effect. Those around you too will be caressed by hope and they will respond in the same way. Together, you will create an ecosystem of positivity which will offer you solace, succour and strength.