In this live presentation at a cancer survivorship event in Brighton, UK, Shrenik Shah, a head‑and‑neck cancer survivor, shares his personal journey and his mission to improve the quality of life for other patients. He opens with a humorous self‑introduction, noting his age, family, and a long‑standing marriage to "electronics" (his electrolarynx). Shah recounts his 1997 tracheotomy and right laryngotomy, the resulting permanent stoma, and how he has lived with the “sound of silence” for over two decades. He describes his professional background in international marketing, having traveled to 35 countries and worked eight‑to‑ten hours daily, positioning himself as a global citizen who can bridge cultural gaps. Shah emphasizes his advocacy work: he connects with roughly 12,000 cancer patients and caregivers through one‑on‑one support groups, serves as a digital ambassador for the Cancer Aid app (prominent in Australia, the USA, and the UK), and delivers talks to medical students and professionals to supplement clinical care with emotional support. He highlights media exposure, including a feature in an Ahmedabad Cancer Foundation book, a filmed interview with his spouse in London, a presentation at the World Adenoid Cancer Conference in Nottingham, and a contribution to a Google Project on alternative speech methods. Throughout, Shah thanks oncologists for their skill, urges a focus on survivorship quality, and promotes mindfulness, technology, and community as tools for living fully after cancer. The talk concludes with an invitation to connect, a light‑hearted offer of coffee, and a reaffirmation of his commitment to empower a million patients worldwide.
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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?
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, you're going to laugh. I got married again in 1987 with electronics. And you know, this electronics is going to be a lifelong same as my wife. You know, as Chris 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 witness Elixir, Magic, 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 of 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. 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, you stated the author name of the lary or laryngotomy is Sound of Silence. If there is no TV, if there is no electronics, 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. अभी तो बोल वन वेक फॉर नाइन ए फॉर डेट सो मरेज मरेज आई वेक टू ब्रेथ फॉर द लाइफटाइम सो दैट्स अबाउट स्टोमा एंड यस यू कैन सी दिस इज़ लाइफ टू जीरो 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 hearts of 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 more of medical students. 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 I give it. 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.
Welcome to one and all to India's first world heritage city Ahmedabad with papda, jalebi, dhokla, and add some protein and sugar on my behalf.
Sir, do I really have to introduce myself?
मेरी आवाज़ ही A picture speaks thousand words, but watching someone speaking live and especially sharing your topic, 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 chessboard and And sleeping with the enemy 24/7 and wake up 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 breaths of my life. 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 moxie life after the cancer. It's like 2020 came. I got dropped at 45 and now I am 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 all who help protect and comfort cancer patients to my best ability. And I have privilege to digitally connect with 12,000 cancer patients and caregivers. And also, as an ambassador of Cancer Aid, the number one digital app in Australia, USA, and UK, I would like to greet all cancer Congratulations and very much lucky getting connected with all those people. Proud moment for all our countrymen and Indians. I am having opportunity to speak Make 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 Traders Charity Cancer Support Group in UK. My cancer survival story with the title I am going to stay was covered by Ahmedabad 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 monkey life after cancer. In January this year, I had the privilege to document an article for Google Project in USA for their alternative method of 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 live better life even under cancer. Let us not forget that cancer is Frankensteinian. Either you pride is brilliant, else brilliant is going to pride on your virtue choices for your life. Slap word, please. Technology is becoming our part of the life every day, and like we download various apps from smartphone, likewise download the Double Jewel app in your bed and fight cancer to become winner from survival. Lastly, even after cancer, the ability of dating 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 way in life to lead on even after cancer, provided you never give up the fight against cancer and you keep on giving your best effort To assist others. Friends, I believe you must have found my speech of great interest. If I can be of any assistance for any of your kinds of reasons, please feel free to get in touch with me. And my best wishes and enjoy your stay in our beautiful city and 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 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 your soul.
So, you've seen the video, and this what I would like to show guys that that 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, all to all female oncologists for their spouse. You know, without their dedication, cancer patients can never survive. Yeah, um, I'm, I'm from state of Gujarat with the highest density of head and neck cancer, especially because of smokeless use of tobacco. And that is what rather 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 efforts 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 live, through my live presentation, there are countless. Again, I'm very well connected with UICC and you can read. Well, the topics which are not taught in our university, I learned from university from experience. Here I learned from the university of my own experience. So I'm really not a doctor, but I look like a doctor. Well, after the 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 on my wife and electro-linings than myself. I need to charge my electro-linings if I want to speak the next day. Well, in too many magazines, newspaper, my story Is featured from time to time. And this 10 on 10, I mean, whatever assignment I get in room, uh, for getting 10, I give my efforts at least by 11 so that I never fail to get 10. Uh, it was you guys to go through this quickly because again I will be running out of time. So I have given a lot of presentations here in UK, in India, in Bichar Medical College, NHL Medical College, and several other institutes. Is the doctor He survived me. I mean, if he would not have been there, I would never have seen a second day. My windpipe was totally plugged because of the tumor on top of larynx. So, I mean, if I would have been delayed by one day, I would have never survived. So all my deep gratitude to this Dr. Cancer, Adenocarcinoma Surgeon, is the president of Federation in India. Our very familiar face, Dr. Chandra Shah, pioneer in Adenocarcinoma. You must be familiar with Professor Martin Mitchell. 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 work even after cancer and difficult treatments. I touched about 2.5 million families in our state through live presentations with the help of oncologists. This is also another huge cancer center in India where I gave a presentation first time. I was invited in 60 years as a cancer survivor. This was the slide of the my presentation last year in Nottingham. To so much to live, so much to read, but it's a lazy life after cancer. I received this award. Loads of support from the family. We did a 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.
