Yuvraj has malignant tumour, being treated in the US

Pakistan Telegraph (IANS) Sunday 5th February, 2012

India's star cricketer Yuvraj Singh has been diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his lung and is currently undergoing chemotherapy at the Cancer Research Institute in Boston.

Yuvraj was detected with the tumour in October but his family maintained that it was non-malignant.

The 30-year-old cricketer's physiotherapist Jatin Chaudhary, however, revealed Sunday that it is malignant but there was nothing to fear about since it is "100 percent curable". Yuvraj had left for the US January 26 for treatment.

"This tumour is rare and is cancerous but nothing to fear about because it is 100 percent curable. The best part is that tumour has been detected in stage one," said Chaudhary.

Chaudhary said that due to the negligence of an Indian hospital, it took some time to detect that the tumour was malignant.

"It took two biopsies to detect the nature of the tumour. The first report was stolen from his car while the second from an Indian hospital couldn't give us a clear picture. Finally it was a Russian doctor who detected the nature of the tumour and after consultations with doctors in US, it was decided that Yuvraj would undergo chemotherapy," he said.

Chaudhary said Yuvraj, who was earlier undergoing ayurvedic treatment, had to undergo chemotherapy immediately since the tumour is located just above his heart.

"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 percent curable," Chaudhary said.

"The doctors decided he would have to undergo chemotherapy and therefore he flew to the US Jan 26. He is expected to recover by March and should be on the field by May. He would also undergo a rehabilitation process after returning from US," said Chaudhary.

Yuvraj is seeking inspiration from legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong, who survived testicular cancer to win the Tour de France a record seven times.