Cricket Player Yuvraj Singh’s Mediastinal Cancer Prognosis and Life Expectancy
Yuvraj diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Yuvraj Singh, India’s World Cup hero and Man of the Tournament, has been diagnosed with malignant mediastinal cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy in United States. Mediastinum is the area in the chest that lies between sternum, lungs, and spinal cord. The area houses the heart, windpipe, and thymus gland in addition to the large blood vessels and connective tissues. Mediastinal cancer is formed in the area between the lungs and they are very rare.
Prognosis for Yuvraj’s Cancer
Prognosis for mediastinal cancer is varied. Tumors respond differently to chemotherapy and radiation. This type of cancer mostly affects people in the age group of 20 to 40.
Yuvraj’s cancer has been found to be a lung seminoma. Doctors treating Yuvraj claim that he has a 95% recovery chance. The condition arises as a result of genetic disposition that develops during fetal growth phase and has nothing to do with alcohol abuse or smoking.
Only 3 to 5% of tumors in the mediastinum are due to germ cells. A germ cell is a reproductive cell that develops into sperm cells in men and egg cells in women. Hence, germ cell tumors generally develop in the ovaries or testicles, however they can develop in the brain, stomach, or mediastinum and here they are known as extragonadal tumors.
Yuvraj has begun with his nine-week long chemotherapy sessions. Reports from his relatives and the BCCI say that he is fine and his germ cell lung seminoma is responding to the treatment. He is expected to be back in action playing cricket in a matter of six months.