‘Incredibly lucky’: Rajdeep Sardesai shares his prostate cancer journey 3 months after diagonosis

In his weekly Straight Bat vlog on YouTube, Sardesai said that he was filled with disbelief when his biopsy returned positive for prostate cancer in July.

Published on: Oct 20, 2025, 20:39:18 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai recently announced that he was diagnosed of prostrate cancer and revealed that he feels "incredibly lucky” to be free of the disease, three months after diagnosis.

Rajdeep Sardesai said that his cancer has been removed but he feels “lucky” because of early detection (X/Rajdeep Sardesai)

In his weekly Straight Bat vlog on YouTube, Sardesai said that he was filled with disbelief when his biopsy returned positive for prostate cancer in July.

“‘Sir, unfortunately the biopsy is positive for prostate cancer’. That was the terse, matter of fact message on my WhatsApp in the middle of July that threatened to upturn my life. I stared at the words unblinkingly more than a few times. Cancer? Me? How? Why? I had just celebrated turning 60 only weeks earlier, I had no major medical history nor any symptoms to suggest any looming health crisis," the veteran TV journalist said in a video posted on Youtube.

"A routine medical procedure that involved a series of tests culminated in a fusion biopsy to identify a suspected malignant cancerous tumor. A planned holiday to watch the exciting nailbiting India England test series was now turning out to be a rather unsettled summer of growing trepidation,” he said in the video.

The media veteran said that his cancer has been removed but he feels “lucky” because of early detection.

“Prostate cancer itself is increasingly common and is the second most diagnosed cancer among men in India, especially elderly men. Survival rate in India is around 64% higher for those who receive early treatment. My Gleason score, a grading system for prostate cancer, was on the higher side but the cancer itself had been detected relatively earlier. I was in that sense incredibly lucky," Sardesai said.

He said that that he underwent a successful robotic surgery in the middle of August to remove the prostrate.

"I feel even luckier. Last week, the scans I did revealed that there had been no spread of the disease and the cancerous tumor had been effectively removed," Sardesai added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.