Shrenik Shah, Patient Ambassador and Moderator of Fridays with Shrenik Live webinar at the Indian Cancer Society, posted on LinkedIn:
“Humbled to create history at AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) on 10th September 2025
For the first time ever, a vocalcord cancer survivor was invited to address a large gathering of aspiring psychologists, doctors, and dignitaries. And that survivor was me.
The topic of the talk was: “From Hospital Bed to Times Square, New York – twice.”
Standing on that stage on SuicidePreventionDay, I couldn’t help but remember the days when even speaking a single word felt impossible. Life had taken away my natural voice, but it also gave me a mission: to use this clarion voice to remind people that no darkness is permanent.
What moved me most? It wasn’t the applause. It was the lines of psychology students waiting to take pictures, saying, “Sir, you’ve shown us what resilience looks like in real life.”
Moments like these matter because they prove that stories are not just personal, they’re medicine. They heal, they prevent, and sometimes, they save.
Here are a few truths I shared with them:
- Pain can’t always be erased, but it can be transformed. I lost my voice, but found a platform.
- Hope is contagious. If my journey from a hospital bed to TimesSquare inspires even one person to hold on, the struggle was worth it.
- We need listeners, not just advisors. Especially in mentalhealth, empathy can do more than solutions.
- Your scars are your credentials. They remind the world that survival is possible.
As I walked out of AIIMSDelhi, I felt gratitude more than pride.
Gratitude for the chance to turn my wounds into words, my silence into strength, and my survival into service, Dr. Nand Kumar & Dr. Deepika Dahima
On Suicide Prevention Day, my message was simple: Your story is not over yet.”
More from Shrenik Shah on OncoDaily.
