After battling rare cancer, Arun Lal says 'never give up'

Calcutta: Pain in Arun Lal's right jaw region was often attributed to a dental issue. It actually turned out to be adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare form of cancer "which generally attacks through the nervous system." However, having survived surgery (on February 9) which lasted over 13 hours and having overcome the "terrible" side effects of 30 sessions of radiation, Lal is upbeat. Typically, for the 60-year-old former India opener has been the gung-ho type.

Yuvraj Singh beat cancer in 2012. Four years later Lal has had to fight it out. "I'm indebted for life to the Tata Medical Center for doing such an unbelievably fabulous job... "You can't imagine what I've gone through, but here I am, an example of what Calcutta-based doctors can do... "I'm a walking advertisement for the Tata Medical Center (in Rajarhat) and would gladly serve as its brand ambassador," an emotional Lal told The Telegraph. Speaking at his leafy South Calcutta residence on Tuesday evening, Lal revealed he'd be back before the TV microphone on Saturday, which marks the start of the pink-ball final of the CAB's Super League. "Initially, I thought of resuming TV work in July, but I'm much better, so why not act as an inspiration to others afflicted with one form of cancer or the other? I'm excited... "Having come back from the dead, my take on life has changed. I'd say live for the day but don't take life for granted... "I may not believe in religion, but I do believe in God. I also believe one needs luck and the doctors got it all right that day... "Friends advised I go to Singapore or London, but Dr Pattatheyil Arun and his team gave me so much confidence after just one meeting, that I didn't seek a second opinion outside Calcutta," Lal pointed out. "I'm grateful, too, to Dr Subhendu Roy (Drs Tribedi & Roy) for his advice. I'd never met him before I sought his opinion on the biopsy report... "Dr Roy advised that I look at the best institution for oncology, not necessarily the best doctor... "Also, that when I needed to have surgery, I should get it over and done with at the earliest. That I must not wait to complete TV commitments in the Asia Cup, the World T20 and the IPL... "Heeding Dr Roy's advice, I underwent surgery within 10 days or so of my first visit to the Tata Medical Center... "Besides Dr Arun and his core team, I'm thankful to other doctors as well... "Dr Gautam Biswas, Dr Annu Singh, Dr Indranil Mallick, anaesthetist Anshuman Sarkar. I'll never forget what they've done to get me into this shape," Lal added. Again turning emotional, Lal said: "Time is precious, life has to be enjoyed... I'm not worried if there's a relapse, for I can return to the Tata Medical Center... "I'm still on liquid diet and the movement of my right shoulder and arm is heavily restricted... I have no teeth on my right side, but I'm talking to you... "It's not a big deal if you're able to stand up to it. I remember being put in a room without windows on the second day after the surgery, with nine tubes in different parts of my body... "I wanted to live, but I thought I'd die. I was, however, determined to survive that night in the hope of a better tomorrow... "Well, I was able to pull through... "For months, I couldn't sleep for more than an hour at a stretch, had regular headaches, had nausea, but I'm now able to sleep for around five hours at a stretch... "It's possible... With the help of willpower, doctors high on skill and, of course, luck... "My message: Never give up." Inspirational, always. -The Telegraph Calcutta