New Delhi: Rajdeep Sardesai, a widely respected journalist, has shared his brave fight against prostate cancer. The revelation came just ahead of Diwali in his weekly video vlog, Straight Bat with Rajdeep Sardesai.
The 60-year-old anchor, who is also widely known for his sharp political analysis, made public his battle, showcasing his fight against adversity and his never-give-up attitude.
The news of his diagnosis happened in July, just a few days after his 60th birthday, and he faced it with his typical courage. To remove the tumour, he underwent a successful robotic surgery in August, and thus, he is currently in the process of full recovery. “Life is a blessing beyond comprehension,” Sardesai commented, his tone was very much in control, but there was a trace of emotion when he talked about his hectic schedule of meeting the best doctors and the quiet bravery of those who do not get the limelight and are survivors.
The thing that helped him most to stay positive was the conversation he had with his son Ishan, who is a doctor. “If you have cancer, dad, the prostate is probably the best place to have it. It’s slow-moving and can be easily cured,” Ishan told him, thus giving him reason to hope when he felt most uncertain.
Sardesai, a Padma Shri awardee and a journalist with over 30 years of experience, stressed that real bravery is often silent and doesn’t seek the limelight. “Courage can be found in the hearts and souls of a great many nameless Indians,” he said while acknowledging the fellow fighters.
Prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among Indian men, is associated with a 64% five-year survival rate if detected early, a statistic that Sardesai is looking to encourage by advocating for timely check-ups. The fact that he comes clean with his struggle is a new year’s gift to all of us, and this festive season becomes even more special for the Sardesai family with the presence of such a strong pillar of support as the journalist wife Sagarika Ghose, a Trinamool Congress MP.
Sardesai’s return to broadcasting with a new energy is testimony to his indomitable spirit. The fans and the peers of the anchor have wished him well and shown their support through multiple posts on social media during which they admired his optimistic attitude and that he never gave up.