Longest survivor of Laryngeal cancer

The desire to live and a disciplined routine helped Vir Singh Ramrikh Yadav, survive laryngeal cancer for more than six decades without taking any medicine or medical treatment. “Organise a race for people of my age, I will be the first,” Singh said in his faint voice at a felicitation event organised for him in Bundi city of Rajasthan, where he was recognised by the India Book of Records as the longest survivor of laryngeal cancer. Born on January 1, 1930, he is the longest survivor of Laryngeal cancer with great willpower and a disciplined lifestyle, at the age of 93 years.

Yadav, a resident of Bundi, Rajasthan, and a native of Kosli village in Rewari district of Haryana, was diagnosed with Laryngeal cancer at the age of 33 years. Laryngeal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the larynx -- a part of the throat, between the base of the tongue and the trachea. The larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make a sound when air is directed against them. The sound echoes through the pharynx, mouth, and nose to make a person’s voice.

He underwent the Laryngectomy (surgery for treating cancer) on June 18, 1963, at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. He lost his voice after the surgery and also the ability to smell. He was able to breathe through his throat only after a tracheotomy procedure. He regularly visited the Tata Memorial Hospital for about 20 years after the surgery, but when doctors examined him in June 2002, they were surprised that he had been surviving without medicines.

What he did not lose was the zest to live. Singh set up a dairy business to earn for his family consisting of his wife and four children, and battled through life with a strict disciplined lifestyle. He still wakes up at 4 am, takes a walk for 6-7 kilometers, followed by a simple but nutritious breakfast at 8 am and then two chapatis, mashed into a liquid, for lunch and dinner. He retires to bed at 10 pm every night. Yadav also succeeded in regaining a bit of his voice, which enabled him to communicate with his family members. An hour’s gossip with them at dinner time is still an essential part of his routine.

“Vir Singh Yadav is certainly an inspiration for cancer patients as he has lived for over 60 years after the surgery with his strong willpower and discipline, without any medicine,” said Dr L N Meena of Bundi District Hospital, adding that lifestyle and willpower play a major role in curing serious diseases. The felicitation programme was attended by local MLA Ashok Dogra, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) vice president Harimohan Sharma, Bundi SP Jai Yadav, and several dignitaries from the area. Dr Raja Mukeem, associated with HIIMS (Hospital & Institute of Integrated Medical Sciences), honoured Yadav by handing over the IBR certificate and a medal.