Yuvi, like Lisa, inspires many in his cancer fight

BANGALORE, INDIA: A triumphant Yuvraj Singh returned to India today after undergoing treatment for rare germ cell cancer in Boston. All through his hospital stay, his was an effortless display of sportsmanship as even in pain, he posted only the happy and smiling photos and in that smile, won the biggest battle of his life. When he tweeted yesterday, "Finally the day has come, I am going home tomorrow. I am excited," many Tweepies instantly became his followers.

Today, the country gave him the most deserving heroic welcome as it always extended him after every cricket victory. His father Yograj Singh told TV channels that he's happy to see his son emerge as a winner. "I am thankful to the god, to the people of this country. You prayed for my child and he's come back as a winner. I am proud of him and I love him a lot," he said.

A celebrity or not, prayers work magic, but it is purely one's confidence to overcome pain that makes all the difference. As rightly stated by actress-model Lisa Ray: "Being famous doesn't ensure a 'perfect' life and that we are as vulnerable as anybody else is." Lisa, who survived multiple myeloma, a rare cancer, in 2009 has become an inspiration for cancer patients to fight the deadly disease.

Returning to normal life wasn't easy for Lisa, but that was just the beginning of her second innings. Even after she made a comeback to her modelling career, she felt it was her responsibility to educate people about cancer and its cure through ad campaigns. In India, where awareness is incredibly low, there can't be a perfect way than Lisa's. She has chronicled her fight with cancer online-- about her weight gain, hair loss, chemotherapy, etc. and also conducts awareness campaigns.

Across the world, cancer survivors have one common aim: To see that no cancer patient ever gives up. Instead, conquer cancer with confidence and strong will. TV anchor and writer Sharon Osbourne battled colon cancer in 2003 and since then she started the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program.

Singer Kylie Minogue of the 'Can't get you off my head fame' once broke down when an anchor complemented on her 'brave' battle with the disease. She told him: 'You might have seen the bravery. I don't think the public saw... well, I stayed indoors. My family got me through really rotten, dark moments. But beneath those tears was a strong person, who was determined to beat the breast cancer and did it fine too.

It is reported that umpteen number of young women were saved by early detection as a result of the publicity around her story. And that is the power of publicity.