Posted on 30th Oct 2025, by Admin
Some victories aren’t loud — they’re spoken through silence and strength.
When we talk about cancer, we often focus on survival statistics, treatment protocols, and medical milestones. But sometimes, the most powerful stories come from a single patient — one who redefines what it means to live, not just survive.
He came to us at Ranchi Cancer Hospital & Research Centre with Stage IV tongue cancer — a stage where the disease had already advanced, making speaking, swallowing, and even simple daily activities difficult. Despite the odds, he was determined to fight.
After careful evaluation, we performed a Sub-total glossectomy (removal of almost the entire tongue) — a major procedure, but the only way to save his life. It was challenging for the patient, his family, and the entire care team.
Surgery was only the first step. The real healing began with speech therapy, swallowing rehabilitation, and emotional recovery. It takes extraordinary courage to relearn how to communicate and eat — but he did it, with patience, persistence, and immense family support.
A few months later, he achieved something truly inspiring — he appeared for a job interview for the post of a manager, standing tall, confident, and hopeful once again. Today, he awaits the results — a symbol of what determination can achieve even after cancer.
This isn’t a story about surgery or skill. It’s about the human spirit — about rebuilding life after cancer when everything seems lost. Cancer may take away a part of the body, but it can never take away courage, willpower, or dignity.
This story reminds us that rehabilitation is as important as treatment, and that recovery is as much emotional as it is physical.
While his courage inspires, his story also carries an important lesson — he was diagnosed late. Tongue cancer often begins silently with small, easily ignored signs such as:
If caught early, treatment can be simpler, and the quality of life after recovery much better. Early detection can change what courage alone cannot.
Every patient’s story teaches us something profound about life, resilience, and purpose. As healthcare professionals, our mission is not just to treat disease — but to restore hope. Let’s continue to spread awareness about oral and head-and-neck cancers. Because one timely check can save a life, a voice, and a future.
Dr. Sachender Pal Singh
Consultant Head & Neck Oncosurgeon,
Ranchi Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (A Unit of Tata Trusts and Tata Cancer Care Foundation), Ranchi, Jharkhand
Dr. Sachender Pal Singh is a Head and Neck Oncosurgeon with extensive experience in oncologic and reconstructive surgery. Trained at premier institutes across India and internationally, including Tata Memorial Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, he focuses on comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care that emphasizes both cure and quality of life. He believes that true success in cancer care lies not only in removing the disease but in helping every patient reclaim dignity, function, and hope.