In this 25‑minute presentation Shrenik Shah, a head‑and‑neck cancer survivor who underwent tracheotomy and laryngectomy, shares his personal journey and his mission to improve the lives of other cancer patients. He opens with a light‑hearted self‑introduction, noting his age, family, and the “electrolarynx” that has become his lifelong companion. Shah describes the physical reality of living with a stoma and the importance of quality of life after cancer. He then outlines his extensive advocacy work: speaking at medical colleges, supporting over 12,000 patients and caregivers through digital platforms, serving as an ambassador for the CancerAid app, and representing India at international conferences such as the World Adenoid Cancer Conference. Throughout, he thanks the oncologists who saved his life, emphasizes mindfulness, resilience, and the need for patients to take an active role in their recovery. Shah concludes with a call for collaboration, offering his help to anyone needing assistance and inviting the audience to enjoy Ahmedabad’s hospitality.
For more words and for more patient testimony, we heard from yesterday, those of you who were here, but for those of you who weren't here, he's already made it very clear that he's the most travelled patient, so we won't take that badge away from him. Shrenik, would you like to take the stage again?
Thanks. Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. Today I'm on a different assignment of bringing difference, or rather making difference in life of others. Don't be surprised. I'm going to make a very, very humble statement. I am 23 years old with a white beard and a family of 8: a wife, 2 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, and 2 grandsons. And I got married in 1975, and then—
1975.
You're going to laugh. I got married again in 1987 with Electrolytics. And you know, this Electrolytics is going to be a lifelong same as my wife.
No.
It is very well said. Survivorship is not survivorship if it is not quality life. And I'm going to take you for a marathon run for next 25 minutes, and I'm sure you will quit us. Oh, Alex, more sick and beautiful life after cancer. So this is the beginning.
Next.
So I would like to welcome you one and all virtually with the flowers. This is the design From the drawing room in my house back in Ahmedabad, India. As Richard said in the morning, I flew not 20 miles, not 60 miles, or not 100 miles. I flew 5,000 miles to attend this, or rather to speak at this event. And last year also, I did presentation, and Chris is indeed a very great friend of mine. And then, you know, Phil, and there are a lot of people. I'm getting a huge opportunity, you know, to build a beautiful bonding beyond boundaries. And also, I'm excited to meet new friends, oncologists, health professionals.
Thank you.
So, well, uh, here again, uh, I'm into desktop color business. Uh, rather, I'm into international marketing. Been to 35 countries, more than 150 overseas trips, and that's all for my business. And even today, I am working around eight to ten hours a day. Yesterday, I stated the other name of the larynx or laryngotomy is sound of silence. If there is no TV, if there is no electro larynx. Sound of Silence. You know, there are a few things. My nose is like an ornament. I can no more breathe from my nose. I'm having a stoma, a beautiful One week, four nine, a four days. So what is breath? I wait to breathe for the lifetime. So that's about stoma. And yes, you can see this is life to zero. As you can see, every single minute I'm living in a moment, and that's what life is all about. After cancer, there's a laryngotomy, and I'm committed to touch. 1 million patients globally, and I'm quite actively participating on one-to-one basis through cancer support groups. I'm giving live presentation with slides in medical colleges, particularly, I mean, especially for medical students. Thank you. The reason is these medical students, they are going to treat our patients. It could be cancer patient, it could be anybody for next three four decades. You know, the priorities are quite different, like treating the patients, but giving a little soothing. Advice to the patients that will make huge difference in the life of the patients along with the medication, treatment, surgery, whatever. And I would like to see my video.
Warm welcome to one and all to Indraj Watch. What a rich chili and the bath with papda, jalebi, dhokla, and add some protein and sugar on my behalf.
Sir, do I really have to introduce myself?
मेरी आवाज़ ही मेरी पहचान है। A picture A picture speaks thousand words, but watching someone speaking live and especially laryngotomy, that speaks million words at a time. Dear oncologist, I'm going to share something with you which is never expressed anywhere in the world over. All cancer survivors on this planet, they are in fact real James Bond and sleeping with the enemy. 24/7 and welcome every morning, evening, those enemy. I like to express deepest gratitude to that young oncologist and all oncologists present here for their unparalleled skill for treating and curing cancer patients. 5th September 1997, that is 21 years before when I was virtually counting last A young oncologist from Ahmedabad, he saved my life. He dragged me back to this planet after performing tracheotomy and right laryngotomy. Currently, I'm in London for a week. This is my foxy life after the cancer. It's like 2020 came. I got dropped at 45, and now I've committed to reach 100. And during this journey, I started learning to float like butterfly, and that is the best part of my life which I am living for last 20 years. Friends, I am on the mission with the passion, with my open arms and hands of hope to hug, hold, help, protect, and comfort cancer cancer patients to my best ability and have privilege to digitally connect with 12,000 cancer patients and caregivers. And also, as an ambassador of CancerAid, the number one digital app in Australia, USA, and UK, I would like to greet all cancer patients and very much lucky getting connected with all those people. Moment for all our countrymen and Indians. I am having opportunity to speak Make It India mindset of fighting cancer at World Adenoid Cancer Conference in Nottingham in November this year, and I am the only Indian invited as a guest speaker. This event is organized by the charity Cancer Support Group in UK. My cancer survivor story with the title I'm Going to Stay was covered by Andhra Pradesh Cancer Foundation in 10 on 10 copyable book. Friends, you will be very happy to know that I was filmed along with my better half in London last year to showcase the bouncy life after cancer. In January this year, I had the privilege to document an article for Google Project in USA for their important and imaginative speaking. Dear oncologists, I'd like to say thank you for your unparalleled skill and modern technology. Cancer is no more cancer. We cannot change the past, but if we control the present without fear, we can surely create a better future with no boundaries. Instead of expecting sympathy from others, start helping people, and one can lead better life even under cancer. Friends, don't forget that cancer is fragrance stallion. Either you ride this stallion, and stallion is going to ride on you for sure. Choices on your smartphone is becoming our part of the life every day, and Like we download various apps from smartphone, likewise download the troubleshoot app in your head and fight cancer to become winner from survival. Lastly, even after cancer, the ability of gaining still exists if your mind is fearless, and that is called mindfulness. Cancer patients and survivors, never give up. The fight against cancer and stay strong like Himalaya. There is always a ray of light to lead on even after cancer, provided you never give up the fight against cancer and you keep on giving your best efforts to assist others. Friends, I believe you must have found my speech of great interest. If I can be of any If you need assistance for any of your cancer patients, please feel free to get in touch with me. And my best wishes and enjoy your stay in our beautiful city, Ahmedabad. Have a great time ahead. This is Shrenik Shah, cancer survivor in 21st year, and I rather don't remember that I at all had a cancer I make a very good coffee, and next time I would like you to join me, and I am sure I will be able to caffeinate yourself.
So, uh, you've seen the video, and that's what I would like to showcase, that there is always a beautiful life even after cancer. And, you know, time is not so much to go more into details. You know, the credit goes to the spouse of wife of oncologist or other, vice versa. I mean, or to all female oncologists for their spouse. You know, without their dedication, cancer patients can never survive. Yeah, I'm from state of Gujarat with the highest density of getting neck cancer, especially because of smokeless use of tobacco. And that is what marathon inspired me to go globally to assist Cancer patients to lead a quality life after cancer. The best thing is I know more than 100 oncologists. I mean surgical, radiation, clinical, and I do give my best effort for getting quicker appointment. Of course, this is most easier. In India because, you know, you can certainly use your influence. And I guess I did counseling for more than 2,500 cancer patients on one-to-one basis and through support groups, through my live presentation. Presentation, there are countless. Again, I'm very well connected with UICG, and you can read, well, the topics which are not taught in our university, I learned from university, from experience. Yeah, I learned from the university of my own experience. So I'm really not a doctor, but I look like a doctor. Well, after losing the larynx, you know, usually the life is disabled, but I turned it. I took a challenge and turned it. From disabled to enabled. And I'm speaking over telephone, and I mean, it's like a seamless journey, and I can talk as long as I like. Only thing is, I have to look after much more for my wife and electronics than myself. I need to charge My electrolytes if I want to make a next day. Well, in too many magazines, newspaper, my story is featured from time to time. And this 10 on 10, I mean, one of whatever is an assignment I get into, For getting ten IQ my efforts at least by eleven, so that I never fail to get ten. I request you guys to go through this quickly because again I will be running out of time. So I have given a lot of presentation. Here in UK, in India, in Bichar Medical College, NHL Medical College, and several other institute. Is the doctor? He survived me. I mean, if he would not have there, I would never seen a second day. My windpipe was totally blocked. Because of the tumor on top of larynx, so I mean if I would have been delayed by one day, I would have never been survived. So all my deep gratitude to this doctor, a cancer head and neck cancer surgeon, is the president of Federation in India. Our family based. Dr. Jyotish Shah, a pioneer in adenocarcinoma. You must be familiar with Professor Martin Bridgel. I got a testimonial from him a few months back. So my job is image building beyond boundaries as a cancer survivor, cancer winner. Going back to work, I showcase like what I'm doing and inspire others to go back to the work even after cancer and difficult treatments. I touch about 2.5 million families in our state through live presentation with the help of oncologists. This is also another huge cancer center in India where I give a presentation first time. I was invited in 60 years as a cancer survivor. This was the slide of my presentation last year in Nottingham. So much to learn, so much to read, but it's A Life After Cancer. I received this award. A lot of support from the family. We did the presentation in London last month. These are all known facts. These are my Soldiers, I would say. I announce them as they are my head and neck. So I make delectable coffee and be my guest. Yeah, I can be reached through these links. Thank you.
