07 February,2012 08:03 AM IST | | AFP
India's World Cup star Yuvraj Singh will recover from a cancerous tumour, his doctor said yesterday, as politicians, sports officials and his teammates rallied around the ailing all-rounder.
Nitesh Rohatgi, a senior Delhi-based oncologist addresses a press
conference in New Delhi yesterday. Pic/AFP
Yuvraj is undergoing chemotherapy treatment in the United States for a rare condition, mediastinal seminoma, a malignant tumour located between his lungs.
Nitesh Rohatgi, a senior Delhi-based oncologist who has been treating the 30-year-old cricketer, said he was confident Yuvraj will recover from the disease.
"It is curable with the help of therapy and will not hinder Yuvraj's career in the long-term," Rohatgi, a consultant of medical oncology at a New Delhi hospital, told reporters.
"I must stress it is not lung cancer. It is located between the two lungs, rather than in the lungs. It's a rare disease, but something which can be cured.
"I am confident he will be cured and return to cricket like before," said Rohatgi, adding that Yuvraj will be able to start active training by May.
Yuvraj will tomorrow start the third week of a nine-week chemotherapy treatment in the United States and will be able to do light training as he improves, the doctor said.
Support for Yuvraj
Support for Yuvraj, who was named the man of the tournament after India's World Cup triumph in April last year, poured in from team-mates, officials and politicians across the country.
"Wish Yuvraj a speedy recovery! Asking officials to find the quantum and nature of help required. Government should and will help him," Indian sports minister Ajay Maken wrote on Twitter.
Leave Yuvi alone
India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh wrote on the micro-blogging site that "whatever Yuvraj is dealing with, we need to support him, leave him alone and allow him to recover soon".
"He is a born fighter. I request media to respect Yuvraj's privacy and allow him to concentrate on his recovery. He will be back with a bang," said Harbhajan.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he did not know about the illness as he had not been in touch with Yuvraj, but he told the Press Trust of India news agency: "He is a pleasure to have in the side."
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also wished Yuvraj a speedy recovery.
