- 39 minutes ago
Rajdeep Sardesai opens up about his prostate cancer diagnosis, surgery and recovery at the India Today Health Wealth Conclave 2026. In a candid conversation with his doctor, Dr Anshuman Agarwal, the journalist discusses early detection, family support and why his cancer journey taught him to stop taking life for granted.
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00:00So here we are at the final session of the Health Wealth Summit 2026.
00:07For the past 48 hours, we've had some of the country's best doctors over here on this stage
00:15talking about different organs, different diseases, from alternate therapy to what's invoked,
00:22to what tests should be done, to what diet should be followed.
00:25We've spoken about everything and I think it's only befitting that we sort of conclude this summit
00:32by putting a spotlight not just on medicine and doctors but patients as well.
00:39We also put a spotlight on the relationship between a patient and a doctor
00:44and we get to see perhaps the human side of the doctor as well.
00:49So with us today, they don't need any introduction but let me try to do that anyways,
00:54please give a huge round of applause to Rajdeep Sardesai, someone not just I deeply respect
01:02but he's a pioneer in the industry.
01:04He is also not just one to be coming here as a journalist but he comes here today as a
01:13patient,
01:14as a survivor.
01:15Rajdeep is a cancer survivor.
01:17And with us also here today is Dr. Anshirman Agarwal.
01:23He's a senior urologist at Indiprata Polo Hospital.
01:26He treated Rajdeep through the entire process.
01:29And so firstly, thank you Rajdeep for being here, for trusting us with this conversation,
01:35for speaking about it openly for the very first time.
01:40My question to you, the first question to you is pretty simple.
01:43You've spent your career asking hard questions.
01:48You've spent your career questioning and saying, you know, hard things to those who really are in power.
01:55What was your reaction when you heard the C word for the first time?
02:03Thank you very much, Sonal.
02:05And it's great that, you know, India today and Ajitak are focusing on health
02:10because I believe a country's health is dependent on the health of its people.
02:15The more you invest in health, the more you learn about health, I think a country becomes stronger.
02:21You asked me what was the first reaction when I had the C word.
02:26When I heard that I had the C word, I remember it was last year in June
02:33and I had done a test, a fusion biopsy test at Medanta
02:40when I got a call from the doctor who'd done it
02:43saying I'm afraid that the tumor that you have is not benign
02:48and you have cancer and it is at an early stage but high grade.
02:58And I guess my first reaction, honestly, was why me?
03:04You know, I had planned to go on a foreign trip to England.
03:09I had the tickets to watch India versus England at Lord's.
03:12And for a cricket fan like me, I had everything prepared.
03:16Passport mil gaya tha.
03:17Passport tha, visa tha, sab kuch tha.
03:19And I thought, you know, I'm going to spend the summer watching a cricket match.
03:23Instead, I was then having to deal with Dr. Agarwal, you know, what kind of surgery,
03:30what are my options, meeting other oncologists.
03:34So, I guess it was, why me?
03:36Why did I get to know?
03:40And I guess over time, I've realized, I remember telling my son who's a doctor that, you know,
03:47they've got, they've detected me with prostate cancer.
03:50And his first reaction was, that's okay.
03:53Lots of people have it.
03:55And it's the, if you have to get cancer, it's the best cancer to get.
04:00Toh jab mere bete ne boh mujhe kaha ki, it's the best cancer to get.
04:04I think it's good to have a son or a daughter who's a doctor.
04:07Because if you have someone in the family who's a doctor, it gives you a lot of confidence.
04:11And I think that conversation that I had with my son, soon after detection,
04:16made me feel less sorry for myself, ki yaar mein kyun.
04:20And I suddenly realized that, yaar sab kuch theek hoga.
04:23In life, these things happen.
04:25You just got to have to, you're just going to have to face it.
04:28And hopefully come out even stronger on the other side.
04:31Dr. Agarwal, you remember the first question Rajdeep asked you.
04:34I mean, I can only imagine that when people hear that they have cancer,
04:41there are so many questions, existential questions that come to mind.
04:45Some want to know if they will live.
04:47Some want to know if they will live long enough for a particular incident.
04:53Some want to know if their quality of life is going to be impacted.
04:56Do you remember Rajdeep's first question to you?
05:00So, thank you.
05:01Thank you, Sunil, for having me here.
05:03And Rajdeep and India Today Ajita.
05:06So, Rajdeep has been an exceptionally great patient.
05:10So, many a times when we have patients who are very well educated
05:14and they are well read about the disease and its management.
05:18Nowadays, we have so many AI platforms, even before we had Google search.
05:23So, they come very well prepared with the very specific questions.
05:26And they have already had the trauma of the news and the getting over with it.
05:33So, that has already happened.
05:35And when he came to me, so I was rather, you know, trying to, you know,
05:39put, give different, different options to him.
05:41And I told him to seek opinion from you.
05:44Remember, I told that, you know, you have two options for this disease.
05:47And one is surgery, one is radiation.
05:49And you independently go and meet.
05:51So, that I should not sound biased that being a surgeon, I'm, you know,
05:54I'm coaxing a person towards surgery.
05:56Because everything comes with its own baggages, you know.
05:59Whatever treatment that you do, it comes with its own baggage.
06:03So, whether it is surgery or it is a non-surgical,
06:05so-called a friendly treatment, but radiation is not that friendly at all.
06:09So, I mean, he's an exceptionally good patient who accepted the fact that he,
06:13here is a problem and it has to be dealt with.
06:17And as he's rightly said that his son instilled a lot of confidence in him.
06:21And he was very clear that, you know, he wanted the thing out.
06:25And so, the surgery, so, I really didn't have to put in a lot of effort with him.
06:30Neither did he make me feel that, you know, he's somebody who's so well known
06:35and a position of status and all of those things.
06:38So, all that kind of pressure is because a person,
06:42a doctor is always under pressure from the person across the table.
06:45That is also true because you are not just dealing with the patient,
06:49you are dealing with the entire family, the entire friends,
06:51all of them are just, at times it can be overwhelming.
06:55You know, people are really breathing down your neck that, you know, nothing should go wrong.
07:00And, I mean, I can tell you three days back,
07:02I had a patient who just became so cranky because he fasted for about eight to ten hours
07:07before the surgery that, you know, I had to let him go because he just got cranky.
07:11So, some people just lose it because they've been fasting, they've been under stress
07:16and we understand that this can happen.
07:19This is exactly the same thing that happens in a road rage, right?
07:23So, like the person did not step out of the home to hit somebody, right?
07:27But he ended up getting into an argument with somebody and just, you know, things just went sideways.
07:33And it comes out on the doctor where all you're trying to do is help him.
07:36Yeah, and things go sideways and it can never always fall in place.
07:41Yes.
07:41But if…
07:42Sorry, sorry, doctor.
07:44No, no, so, if everybody is on the same page and, you know,
07:50you let the doctor do whatever he thinks is best in your interest,
07:54I think things mostly work out very well.
07:57If everybody has good intentions…
07:59Can I make an observation?
08:00How many of you here have seen Democratic Newsroom?
08:03How many of you have seen Rajdeep over there?
08:06Rajdeep being such a good patient, not interrupting, letting his doctor have the word.
08:13Like, Rajdeep, is that really you as a patient?
08:16No, no, no.
08:16Actually listening?
08:18Like, dehyay, doctor is as close to God.
08:22Bhagawan, as much as you can come, you're a doctor.
08:25You know, you've got to leave your…
08:27You know, it's almost as if you repose faith.
08:31I frankly don't believe in deities.
08:34I don't go to any mandir, masjid, church.
08:36I feel like the God is in my heart.
08:39But the doctor is…
08:41If there is anyone close to being God for a patient in that moment, it's a doctor.
08:46I think, you know, you just need to salute the doctors of this country.
08:50They work in very difficult conditions often.
08:53And Dr. Agarwal was very practical.
08:55They go, these are your options.
08:57Radiation karo, surgery karo.
08:59You decide.
09:00And then, of course, I took suggestion.
09:02But I just wanted to add to your first question.
09:04You know, I am a 70s child.
09:06I grew up in the 70s generation.
09:08I grew up.
09:09And I was a big fan of Rajesh Khanna.
09:12And Rajesh Khanna's picture was Anand.
09:14Now, whoever…
09:15Many people have seen that picture of Anand.
09:17Rajesh Khanna is struck with blood cancer.
09:20And in that picture…
09:21This is 1971…
09:22A kind of picture…
09:28And for a long time, even for all my education, that's what I thought.
09:32That once you get cancer, you know, even if you recover, you're never going to be fully well again.
09:39So, I think one of the things that I needed was the confidence that, look, you may have cancer,
09:43but that doesn't stop you from living your life.
09:46And I think, you know, the great thing is in this age of digital, I would suddenly start reading about
09:52Gleason's core.
09:54About, you know, I knew what…
09:55I had no clue what PSA was.
09:57This is your prostate, you know, numbers.
10:02I had no clue about PSA.
10:04I had no clue about Gleason's core.
10:06I was reading that who has prostate cancer, how many days do they go to the office or to the
10:10studio?
10:11That was my first thing.
10:12Can I leave in one week, two weeks, four weeks, six?
10:16Will it be okay for me to sit on a chair, do whatever I want?
10:20So, I think people need to read about it.
10:23Not necessarily only when you get it.
10:25But if you…
10:27You know, the more you learn about it, the more you'll feel secure.
10:31This is not Rajesh Khanna and Anand.
10:33You know, blood cancer has been almost certain.
10:37I know people who are recovering even from that.
10:39You know, I have a friend, Sonal, and it's a great life story.
10:43He was detected also with cancer last year in October.
10:48Wonderful guy.
10:50Lymphoma.
10:50And he was really struggling.
10:52Chemo, bar-bar chemo karni pad rahi thi.
10:55He had to do a stem cell transplant.
10:58That didn't work the first time.
11:00He had to do it a second time.
11:02And his body was going through a lot of…
11:05You know, he was really anguished.
11:07But, his attitude was very positive.
11:10His attitude was very positive.
11:12And God, let's see how it is.
11:14He was detected with cancer last year in October.
11:17He went through nine months of trauma.
11:20August, he finally was told by the doctor, you are now cancer-free.
11:24September mein, both his children have had children.
11:27Toh, he has become a grandfather twice over.
11:30Toh, now, I mean, I said, it was like nine months of labor.
11:34Now, month, you have done labor?
11:35You went through chemo.
11:37None of us could see you.
11:39Suddenly, in the month of September, he has become a grandfather twice over.
11:43I think it's fantastic.
11:45Zindagi is his name.
11:46And, I think when doctors are positive and patients are positive, anything can be done.
11:53You have to remain positive.
11:55Yeah.
11:55That's lovely.
11:56Actually, we live in some brilliant times, Rajdeep and Dr. Agrawal.
12:00We live in times when the advancements are so good that if you can detect early, you can treat early,
12:05you can stay in remission.
12:06And this is actually a great, great moment for medical science as well.
12:11But prostate cancer specifically, doc, and I want you to come in.
12:15It often has no symptoms at all.
12:18And one of the reasons why it's detected so very late.
12:22One of the reasons we wanted to have this conversation today is because we want awareness to spread.
12:27What are the signs that you think Indian men should be watching out for?
12:32Yeah, that's a great question.
12:34And so, I'll just take a minute here.
12:37So, when we were studying medicine, so as Rajdeep mentioned that his son said, this is the best cancer to
12:43have.
12:43So, that was the notion in the early 80s or the mid-80s and when we were studying medicine.
12:50But prostate cancer and likewise so many other cancers, they have become quite aggressive nowadays.
12:56And really, you know, it is really bad to suffer from prostate cancer which is not organ-confined and which
13:03has, you know, spread here and there and then it creates an issue.
13:06Yes.
13:08So, any cancer for that matter is not good to have and it can go to any proportions.
13:16So, the best thing about prostate cancer is that we have a blood test called SPSA, as he mentioned.
13:22That's a prostate-specific antigen.
13:23And this is perhaps one of the very few cancers where you have a test that can predict to the
13:29extent of 75% that you have a cancer or you don't have a cancer.
13:33It's not a 100%, you know, perfect investigation.
13:36But yes, that's close to what we have.
13:39100% is what we have.
13:41So, if anybody, you know, prostate just for the information of people sitting here, it's an organ only in the
13:48males, not in the ladies.
13:49So, ladies are exempt of that.
13:52So, and it's part of the urinary system, it's part of the reproductive system.
13:56It's a very important organ that way.
13:58But it develops diseases in about 50s, it starts to create trouble.
14:06Sometimes in 40s, but usually in 50s, mid-50s, 60s, it's very common cause of urinary problems.
14:12And prostate can enlarge in benign and cancerous ways.
14:16So, there is really no difference in sign or symptom that a prostate may be developing a cancer.
14:24And people might think that it's a part of aging, that they have some urinary issue, but actually it is
14:28prostate cancer.
14:30And most of the times, it may not have any symptom.
14:33Wow.
14:33So, the importance is if somebody in the family has suffered from a prostate problem, especially a first-degree relative,
14:40like a father, brother, uncle, somebody in the family, one has to be more proactive and start screening for prostate
14:46cancer from the age of late 40s or early 50s.
14:50But if there's no family history of prostate issues, you can take it easy and maybe 55 is something that
14:56you should look at and at least once screen yourself for prostate cancer.
15:00But is it also true that men for prostate cancer, women for breast cancer, it's very hard to get them
15:06to test.
15:07They have all the knowledge, they have everything.
15:09It's very hard to get them to test.
15:10Rajinder, what made you test?
15:13Aris, madam, you will be astonished.
15:16I was going, as I said, to England to watch a cricket match.
15:19So, I had done a general test at Apollo Hospital in the month of February, where my PSA was high,
15:28but as I said, I didn't even take notice of it.
15:30What was the PSA, I didn't even know that I was worried about my cholesterol and the blood pressure is
15:37okay, the cholesterol is okay, the rest of it will be okay.
15:41So, I had an extended hernia problem.
15:44So, I decided, my son said, before we go, why don't you get your hernia done?
15:48One day, it will be all done.
15:52So, I went to actually Apollo to do a hernia operation.
15:57And for that, various tests have to be done before you operate.
16:01Initially, my blood count was falling.
16:04So, I was not in a position to do that surgery.
16:08Toh, pehle yeh laga, when the blood count was falling, that it may be something to do with bone or
16:13blood.
16:13So, I actually did testing biopsies for possible bone or blood cancer.
16:18Then the PSA also was high.
16:21Because the PSA was high, I met Dr. Agarwal.
16:24Dr. Agarwal said, why don't you go and do an MRI?
16:28MRI located a tumor.
16:29The tumor was very small and specific in the prostate area.
16:35Then I had to do what you call a fusion biopsy, which is a very targeted biopsy.
16:45Then I got the call saying, the tumor is there, it's not benign, it's cancerous.
16:53So, I went for a hernia operation.
16:56Twenty days later, I'm battling cancer.
16:59And, you know, that's, we don't test.
17:02The truth is, I think one of the things I would like to see, I don't know whether it happens,
17:07but under Ayushman Bharat or under any insurance scheme, there should be cancer checkups that should be available to each
17:14and every one of us to do at least once a year or once in two years.
17:18Particularly after a certain age.
17:20I mean, when I started reading, I realized, so now, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in
17:25India.
17:26Indians are very prone to it.
17:27But how many of us actually know about it?
17:30Maybe our father's generation actually lived through it.
17:34But they never went to get it checked.
17:36I mean, it's usually hereditary.
17:38When doctor asked me, is there anyone in your family who had it?
17:41I said, I don't know.
17:42But it's possible that someone did, but they didn't even know about it.
17:45So, I think testing is very, very important.
17:48If you can test regularly for all ailments really, but certainly through a PET scan.
17:56I think it's extremely useful for breast and prostate cancer, breast for women and prostate for men.
18:04I think we need to have regular testing in this country.
18:08Yeah.
18:09But Rajdeep, I have to ask you.
18:11You have such a zeal for life, right?
18:14You called yourself once the OG cockroach.
18:18You've lived through it all.
18:20You today sound, you are in remission now and you sound like, oh, you know, I've conquered it.
18:26I'm sure that spirit comes in.
18:27But I'm also, somewhere inside me, I feel that was not always the case.
18:32I'm sure there were moments where you felt that, you know, how will this, how will be my life after?
18:38And, you know, questions that often come to cancer patients' mind.
18:41Will it come back?
18:42Did that happen?
18:44And what were you telling yourself in that moment?
18:46In those five, six days after the surgery that I was in the hospital, I was only watching comedy pictures.
18:53You know, the best thing…
18:54No news for Rajdeep.
18:55No news for me, but I was watching lots of comedy, feeling, trying to make myself feel good.
19:05But yeah, there are moments, particularly after the operation, like with any operation, when you have all the rods and
19:12all going through you, where you feel that, you know, I don't want, I just want to get out.
19:19I used to keep asking, Doc, how many days, you know, two days, three days, four days.
19:23eventually it was just a five day cycle
19:25in fact in America they send
19:27you out sometime the very next day
19:29here our doctors are very nice they keep
19:31you for four five days and
19:33you know then you go home and
19:35you know you go through a process
19:37but you know you
19:39just I think the good thing is
19:41it teaches you
19:42you know
19:46you know that should be
19:51the attitude I think you can
19:54conquer anything and I think that
19:56positivity
19:58somehow or the other I think I managed
20:00after a few days to get
20:02and I think watching cricket
20:04and listening to music
20:11I had got
20:14all my Kishore Kumar playlist
20:16all the comedy pictures that I could find
20:18and I used to watch cricket matches
20:20there was a test series or something
20:22going on at the time
20:23so that was good enough for me
20:25yeah but
20:27I want you to take a moment Rajdeep
20:29to reflect on the next question
20:30that I'm about to ask you
20:31I want you to think about
20:34what has changed
20:36ever since then
20:37has your perspective changed
20:39have your habits changed
20:41have your
20:41dietary
20:42you know restrictions changed
20:44has your fitness changed
20:46and has just perspective on life changed
20:50it's five days
20:51you're right
20:53but I'm sure
20:54with every patient
20:55there is like this life
20:57defining moment
20:58was it that
20:59no I think I have to give
21:01Dr. Agarwal and the team
21:03their credit
21:04because they reassured me
21:05that I was fine
21:07I mean
21:08they didn't leave any doubt
21:09in my mind
21:10every you know
21:10I had to initially go
21:11every month for a checkup
21:12then it's every three months
21:13now it's every six months hopefully
21:17so I think that gave me reassurance
21:19on the medical side
21:20on the life side
21:22as I said
21:23you know I think that
21:27I realize there are people
21:28facing far more difficult situations
21:31than I am
21:31you know I was prostate cancer
21:33please think of those
21:34who are facing
21:35far more virulent forms of cancer
21:38so you realize that
21:39you know
21:39you don't have to feel sorry for yourself
21:43and you have to live in the moment
21:44ush samai jo zindagi hai na
21:46or zindagi itna deti hai aapko
21:48you know you get so
21:49we don't
21:50we take life for granted
21:51and I think something like this
21:53tells you
21:54don't take life for granted
21:55enjoy it
21:56har samai jo aap kar sakte ho
21:58usse karo
21:59I want to travel far more
22:00than I ever do in life
22:02I you know
22:03I travel to new places
22:04and I just enjoy the idea
22:06of you know
22:07of just walking by the
22:10by the beach or
22:11you know you go to the mountains
22:13but
22:14I think that's what it's taught me
22:15that
22:16I'm not too worried about
22:17where I will be
22:18three months from now
22:19I can tell you
22:20where I will be
22:21for the next week
22:22and I think that is
22:23an important perspective
22:24for all of us
22:25to have it live
22:26especially the young
22:38so if you can live
22:40in the moment
22:40and make the best
22:41of what you have
22:42at that moment
22:43aap khush raho ge
22:44yeah
22:45yeah
22:46that's what I think
22:47yeah
22:47dr agarwal
22:48I'm sure as
22:50somebody who treats
22:52patients and cancer patients
22:53on a regular basis
22:55Rajdeep says one story
22:56and he's absolutely right
22:57when he says
22:58there are so many people
22:59who are far more worse
23:00I've met
23:01a cancer survivor
23:02who come out
23:03and somebody starts to paint
23:05somebody starts to dance
23:07somebody says
23:08okay this is my second shot
23:10to life
23:10I'm going to ensure
23:11I make the most of it
23:13but I'm sure the pain
23:15and the process of it
23:17weighs in on the doctor
23:19as well
23:20yes
23:20yes absolutely
23:21yeah
23:22absolutely it does
23:23and so when I started
23:26my career
23:26I was like 100%
23:28into urological cancers
23:30and when you see
23:32you know people
23:32who you
23:33whom
23:33with whom you've been
23:35associated for a long time
23:36and they happen
23:37something bad happens to them
23:38so it does take an emotional
23:40toll on the doctor
23:41as well
23:41yes
23:42because I mean
23:43nobody is immune
23:44to the emotion
23:45right
23:46so it is
23:46it is an emotional turmoil
23:49somehow it is just like
23:50you know
23:52every other profession
23:53a policeman is doing
23:54his own job
23:55and a lawyer is doing
23:56his own job
23:57so I mean
23:58you have to keep doing that
23:59and you can't get carried away
24:01yeah
24:01with that
24:02and you have to have your
24:03thing in place
24:05yes
24:05to do the right thing
24:06yeah
24:07you have to have your mindset
24:08yeah
24:08I'm sure your recommendation
24:10tonight to this audience
24:11will also be to get tested
24:12to catch it early
24:14and then
24:15talk to us a little bit about
24:16the advancements
24:18cancer treatments
24:18are also making
24:19there is robotic surgery now
24:21which means that
24:21you're out in no time
24:23as well
24:23there are lots of those
24:25treatments
24:25shed some light on that
24:26so
24:27so treatment is one advancement
24:29and diagnostics is another
24:30advancement
24:31yes
24:31so the major advancement
24:33I would say
24:34treatments have changed
24:35yes the tools that we
24:36used to treat
24:36because previously
24:37we used to make big cuts
24:38now the size of the cut
24:40is getting smaller
24:41and smaller
24:41and maybe someday
24:43we will treat patients
24:44just by the basis
24:45of some gene therapy
24:46so we are trying
24:48to detect cancer
24:49early
24:50that is one part
24:50we are even trying
24:51to figure out
24:53that you know
24:54who can land up
24:54with what kind of cancer
24:56so you do a genetic study
24:58and you find out
24:58certain aberrations
24:59in certain genes
25:00and you find out
25:01I mean there's a very
25:02famous case of
25:03you know
25:04Angelina Jolie
25:05where you know
25:05everybody have heard
25:06about that
25:06because she is a celebrity
25:07so everybody knows
25:08that she tested positive
25:10for a gene
25:10and that same gene
25:11is you know
25:12influencing the
25:13prostate cancer as well
25:15so the BRCA gene
25:16if somebody has got positive
25:18so there are high chances
25:19of you know
25:20breast cancer
25:20prostate cancer
25:21and the bad ones
25:22so people can
25:23you know
25:24go to some radical steps
25:25although that is not necessary
25:27because nothing is 100%
25:29but yes
25:30we have several advancements
25:31in diagnostics
25:32in therapeutics
25:33in you know
25:35in rehabilitation
25:37certain implants
25:38because some limb salvaging
25:40surgeries can be done
25:41so a lot of advancements
25:43not only just the treatment
25:44but before and after as well
25:46just want to add to that
25:48first of all
25:48doctor is a master
25:50in robotic surgery
25:51yes
25:52and you know
25:52robotic surgery
25:53is I think making
25:54it so much easier
25:56as you said
25:56because it
25:57you know
25:57what could earlier
25:58be a
25:59you know
26:00you would have big cuts
26:00now you have very small
26:02incisions that you make
26:03but you know
26:04as I said
26:05my son was an ENT surgeon
26:07and he used to deal
26:10with a lot of
26:10throat cancer patients
26:12and he said
26:14it was the most
26:14difficult thing to do
26:15because a lot of
26:17those who came from
26:17rural areas
26:18tambaku bohat khaathe
26:19wo paan tambaku ki wajase
26:21throat cancer hoa karda tha
26:23and they would come
26:24at a very late stage
26:25yeah
26:26you see that's the worry
26:27ki ki ki paan tambaku
26:29is part of the lifestyle
26:30of so many people
26:32that by the time
26:33they come actually
26:34to your
26:35to the doctor
26:37it's often
26:38very very late
26:39so I think
26:40that is something
26:41that I think
26:42there needs to be
26:43greater cancer
26:44awareness
26:45in a country
26:45like India
26:46we still don't have
26:47enough of that
26:48awareness ki
26:49test karvao
26:50and make those
26:51tests very easy
26:52and simpler
26:53because the diagnosis
26:54and the surgeries
26:55have improved
26:56qualitatively
26:57but I don't think
26:58we reach out
26:59to the grass roots
27:00where there are
27:01all kinds of cancers
27:03and people then
27:03come only in the
27:04final stage
27:06which is
27:06which is very
27:07unfortunate
27:07yeah but Rajdeep
27:08there are all
27:09there is also
27:09the mindset
27:10even to those
27:11who tests
27:12are available
27:13even those
27:13who can afford
27:14it
27:15darte hai
27:16test karane se
27:17I'll give you
27:18my father's example
27:19he has an issue
27:20and we've been
27:21after his life
27:22to get a sleep
27:22apnea test done
27:23or get a sleep
27:24test done
27:25unka ye thawte
27:26which I'm sure
27:27is the thought
27:27for a lot of people
27:28ki test karayenge
27:30kuch na kuch
27:30toh nikalaye ga
27:31zindegi achi khasi
27:32katri hai
27:32kyo test karana
27:34kyo leena aisa
27:35faltu ka zokhim
27:37you know
27:38so un logon ke liye
27:39aap kya kehenge
27:39you know
27:41dhekye
27:41nobody wants
27:42to go to hospital
27:43yeah
27:43you know
27:44woh hospital
27:45eek aise jaga
27:46jo aap nahi
27:47yahne khud ke
27:48treatment ke liye
27:48toh nahi jana
27:49chahte hai
27:49ya kisi or ke
27:50so there is that
27:51that fear is there
27:52but I think
27:53that's the challenge
27:54the challenge is
27:55to have mass
27:56awareness programs
27:57you know
27:58look at this country's
28:00great success
28:01for example
28:01in TB
28:02you know
28:0320-25 years ago
28:05it was a major
28:06problem
28:06but we have
28:07successfully managed
28:09to create
28:09massive awareness
28:10about tuberculosis
28:12in this country
28:13I think we need
28:14to have similar
28:15mass awareness
28:16campaigns for cancer
28:18and the more
28:20we can
28:20I mean
28:20that's the only reason
28:21I thought it was
28:22worth speaking out for
28:23yes
28:23you know
28:23it's important
28:24to speak out
28:25because I think
28:26if you don't
28:26speak
28:27it's not some
28:28stigma
28:29cancer
28:30I don't think
28:31that's
28:31you know
28:32that's the way
28:32to see it
28:33yes I have
28:34cancer
28:34just like you
28:35might have a
28:36cough and cold
28:36yes my treatment
28:37is different to
28:38you
28:38but you know
28:40it's something
28:40to talk about
28:41to
28:42it's not some
28:43black mark
28:44on my life
28:44and the more
28:46we talk about it
28:47the more we make
28:47people aware about it
28:48the more we will
28:49test I think
28:49you're absolutely
28:50right
28:50that's the whole
28:51intention behind
28:52this conversation
28:52as well
28:53and to our
28:54audience here
28:54let me give you
28:55a statistic
28:56the American
28:57Cancer Society
28:58says
28:58that every
29:00second man
29:01and every
29:02third woman
29:03is going to
29:03get cancer
29:04in this lifetime
29:05now look around
29:06you
29:06how many men
29:08how many women
29:09are sitting
29:09that's the reality
29:11we live in
29:11but what they
29:12don't tell you
29:13and perhaps
29:13where headlines
29:14lack sometime
29:15is the fact
29:16that the cure
29:16for cancer
29:17will perhaps
29:18be as easy
29:19as an injection
29:20away
29:20in a couple
29:21of years
29:22from now
29:22the cure
29:23catching it
29:24early
29:24is going to be
29:25as easy
29:26as getting
29:26a blood test
29:27in no time
29:27from now
29:28and when you
29:28put the two
29:29together
29:29you understand
29:30that that's
29:31the whole picture
29:31that one really
29:32needs to look at
29:33as we come
29:34towards the end
29:34of this session
29:35I want
29:35Rajdeep to end
29:37it in his
29:38style
29:38if Rajdeep
29:40had
29:40if the
29:42Rajdeep
29:42pre-cancer
29:43had to
29:44dedicate a song
29:46to Rajdeep
29:482.0
29:49and you
29:50talked about
29:51your friend
29:51becoming a
29:52grandchild
29:53Rajdeep has
29:53had a great
29:54year
29:54he's just
29:54had both
29:55his kids
29:55married this
29:56year
29:56so big
29:56congratulations
29:57to you
29:58you didn't
29:58just fight
29:59cancer
30:00you have
30:01expanded your
30:02family
30:02your family
30:03is now
30:03complete
30:04it's been
30:04a very
30:05very
30:06you know
30:06what do you
30:07say
30:07it's been
30:08a hard
30:08year
30:08but it's
30:09been a
30:09giving
30:09year
30:09for you
30:10do you
30:10have a
30:11song
30:11that you
30:12want to
30:12dedicate
30:13this to
30:13yourself
30:14first of
30:15all I
30:15want to
30:15thank
30:16Dr.
30:16Agarwal
30:16and many
30:17more
30:17doctors
30:18like him
30:18and I
30:19think they
30:19deserve
30:19the true
30:20applause
30:20and there
30:23are many
30:23doctors
30:24I'm sure
30:24you've had
30:24some wonderful
30:25doctors
30:26over the
30:26last two
30:27years
30:27last two
30:28days
30:28I know
30:29how hard
30:29he works
30:30how many
30:30surgeries
30:31he does
30:31he's always
30:32on call
30:33and he's
30:34very matter
30:34of fact
30:35so many
30:35doctors
30:36are like
30:36that
30:36and I
30:37you know
30:37I truly
30:38really respect
30:39Indian
30:39doctors
30:40and I
30:41think we
30:41should all
30:41respect
30:42Indian
30:42doctor
30:43I think
30:48COVID
30:48changed a
30:49lot of
30:49people's
30:49mind
30:50the fact
30:50is
30:50you know
30:51and I'm
30:51glad
30:52Sonal
30:52that you
30:53are focusing
30:53so much
30:54on health
30:54so I
30:55want to
30:55say that
30:56right at
30:56the very
30:56outset
31:25I
31:27So my wife gets very angry with that.
31:29Sing it though, Rajdeep.
31:30You can.
31:31It's coming out.
31:32Come on.
31:32Kishore Kumar ke gaane keval Kishore Kumar ke aalamanen sunne chahiye.
31:36Dr. Azur, I will join you in the song.
31:38Gana is musafir huya roh, na ghar hai, na thikana, bas chalte jana hai.
31:50Aisa hai ki, you know, admi musafir hota hai, aata hai, jata hai.
31:56Apne aate jate kadmoh mein apni yade chhoď jata hai.
32:01That's another song.
32:02But the truth is that life is a journey.
32:04And that's all I'm trying to say.
32:06Life is a journey.
32:06You will have highs and you will have lows.
32:09And I think you need to enjoy the highs and you need to cope with the lows.
32:13And if you can do that with a smile, you know,
32:18koi bada se, bada koi admi ho, keval dhan daulat se koi bada nahi hota ho,
32:24ho dil se admi bada hota hai.
32:26That's what I'll say.
32:26Very, very well said there.
32:29Doc, I want to give you the last word then.
32:31We were speaking to some brilliant oncologists and we've had the pleasure
32:35that some of the finest chose this platform to be here from their busy schedules
32:40and share their knowledge with our audience.
32:43And they all said this one thing that really stuck with me.
32:45They said that, you know, cancer and medicine and bimaari kaisi bhi ho,
32:51at the end of the day that really what truly wins you the battle is the mindset.
32:56Absolutely.
32:57I want to understand from you,
33:00saaree medicines kar lije, achse se achse doctor ko dikha lije.
33:03At the end of it, is it the mind over body that really wins the battle?
33:09Absolutely. It is very true.
33:11And it is not true just for the health part or you take an example of the sportsman.
33:17There's such a high tension situation and it is really his mind is the controlling factor.
33:23You take a leap, you are doing a high jump, you are doing a pole vault or whatever you are
33:27doing.
33:27It is just a mind game.
33:29So when you are dealing with surgery, when there is pain, when there is post-operative pain,
33:34so no matter what painkillers you take, you can be made comfortable with that
33:38but still you are very uncomfortable.
33:40And if your mind is not in the right place, in the right zone,
33:44then you can really have a very, very terrible kind of a post-operative outcome.
33:48Yes, of course, after 15 days everything will fall in place.
33:51But those 15 days are going to be very heavy for you.
33:53So the right set of mind and I think Rajdeep had the best set of mind.
33:58I still remember he said that, you know, I have to be in Mumbai for something.
34:02And that was perhaps after three weeks of the operation?
34:06Three weeks.
34:07Somewhere around three weeks.
34:08And he said, can I take the flight?
34:09I said, of course, yes, if you can manage to sit for a couple of hours.
34:13And he must have tried that sitting for a couple of hours, did not hurt.
34:16Since prostate is the lower part of your body, you are practically sitting on it.
34:20So if you can sit painless for two, three hours, you can take the flight.
34:24You can be anywhere in the world.
34:25You can be in two to three hours.
34:26So the right mindset helps you get over with the crisis in a very comfortable way.
34:32I just want to add, you know, I would be remiss not to thank my family and friends.
34:48You take them for granted.
34:53But I think when you are ill, you realize how strong they are.
34:55So I want to thank my wife, my kids, my friends, my assistant, Surinder Nagar,
35:01who came to my first flight.
35:03I was told by doctor, you can't take the bag.
35:06So someone who was taking my bag.
35:10Now, if someone does this, it means a lot to have someone who is there.
35:17And you realize that only when you are in your weakest.
35:20So, you know, one thing I would say to everybody,
35:24ki just treasure your family and friends.
35:28Daulat doesn't matter through your bank balance.
35:30It matters through the love of your friends and your family.
35:34You are swelling up Rajdeep on that.
35:36No, no, I genuinely mean it, you know.
35:39My assistant, my assistant slept with me every day in that room.
35:45He said, sir, I will be with you until you will be fine.
35:49He doesn't need to do it, you know.
35:52So I think it matters to have people around you who you feel are giving you that kind of unquestioned
35:59love.
36:01And that unquestioned love makes all the difference.
36:04You know, my wife was great when I went home.
36:07Sagarika did everything that I needed, you know, all arranged, the nurses, whatever else was needed.
36:15It just makes you feel, it makes your recovery easier.
36:19If you have people around you, you who love you unquestioningly, it makes your recovery easier.
36:25No TRPs fall, you know, in balance for that.
36:29No views on Instagram really matter when that happens, Rajdeep, doesn't it?
36:33Absolutely.
36:33I mean, you're right.
36:34I mean, you know, that's part of life.
36:42But I think love and affection is very important.
36:47Having caring doctors who, you know, will tell you.
36:49I mean, a doctor needs to tell you the truth.
36:52I think what I liked about Dr. Agarwal is he told you very clearly,
36:55Dekho, aapko ye hai, ye aapke do-teen choices.
36:57Aap leelo choice.
36:59It's not that, you know, aapko karna hi hai, turant kar lije, sarjali do din mein kar lije.
37:03Yeah.
37:03You know, it's not that.
37:04And I think that's important also, to be reassured that there's someone who's telling you what the situation is.
37:10I remember meeting the person who said you could do radiation as well.
37:13So you have options, radiation, surgery.
37:17You could do what they call active surveillance.
37:19Ye aap dekhenge, chalo paanth saal baat kar lenge, when it grows even bigger.
37:24So you have options.
37:26You trust your doctor.
37:27You have the love of your family.
37:30Cancer ko aap hara sakte hai.
37:32And like we say, and it's a good time to sort of plug in and tell you that health is
37:36the real wealth.
37:38Having the right people around you is what really matters.
37:41And that really is the key why we all do what we do.
37:44That is the key to why this entire vertical stands today in front of you.
37:48And this is the reason why we curated this event.
37:50I couldn't be more glad to have both of you here with me.
37:53Thank you so much.
37:54And for Dr. Agarwal for taking our time.
37:56Thank you, Rajdi, for trusting us with this conversation.
37:59Before I let you go, I want you to sign a health prescription for India.
38:05Rajdi, since you have been the only non-doctor on this panel in the past two days,
38:10maybe what you can start writing is a prescription for other cancer survivors.
38:15Where do I have to write?
38:16There.
38:16I'll take you.
38:56Dr. Agarwal.
38:57Please join us.
39:31As simple as that
39:32Eat and sleep well
39:33Perhaps sometimes it's okay to switch off the news
39:36And listen to a good song
39:38And that's pretty much the key to good health
39:40You guys have been such an amazing audience
39:42Thank you so much
39:44Truly truly from behalf of the entire network
39:47And the HealthWell team
39:48Thank you so much for being here
39:50And joining us here on the very first HealthWell Summit
39:53Thank you so much
39:54Good night