The Telugu version of "I AM A SURVIVOR", a compendium of real life and awe inspiring stories of courageous cancer survivors, authored by renowned Oncologist and Director from Apollo Cancer Hospital, Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, was released, in Hyderabad on 4th August.

Dr Anand Reddy, a cancer specialist with immense faith in his ability to provide succor to cancer patients, had the daunting task of conveying the bad word 'cancer' to patients. This pronouncement invariably led the patients to a sense of deep remorse, depression and a feeling of distraught with life. This desperate state of the patients seemed to haunt him to no end. He knew that most cancers are treatable with the advances in medicine and what was needed from the patient was the ability to be remain unfazed as far as possible from the impending agony and to bravely combat it.

His experience in treating such patients dictated that a positive frame of mind could mitigate the trauma and help conquer cancer. He had no ready made solutions on how to impress upon the patients in their moment of immense despair, the need to maintain composure and battle it out with a tough frame of mind. Dr Anand Reddy also realised that no amount of counseling, consoling and attempts to boost their spirit, by the doctor, helps to allay their pain beyond a point. It was during such attempts to counsel patients that he realised the need to pen the experiences of some of the warriors of cancer, who could successfully decimate the disease and are a true inspiration to every cancer patient.

The original English version took Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, aided by his wife Dr Sashi, over 3 years of toil, sparing most evenings and late nights, after a busy practice through the day, to compile ‘I AM A SURVIVOR’. Tollywood diva Ms Rakul Preet Singh while addressing the cancer survivors on the occasion, said, all of you are the real heroes, not us, we just portray different character. The moment we refer to cancer it is related to death, it's a shocking word.

"I am glad that this book has been put together to tell so many inspiring stories and give everyone courage to combat the disease. Congratulate all of you for winning over the dreaded disease and wish you all a very happy and healthy life", she added. Dr Anand Reddy while addressing the cancer survivors, said though I had great satisfaction of giving back to the community a strong message on cancer being after all conquerable and thereby build a sense of resilience in the patients to fight the disease, there was always this thought lurking in me that the book is still not in the reach of a vast majority of patients and this made me to embark on translating it into Telugu.

Now many more cancer patients can battle the disease confidently by taking a leaf from these inspiring stories, said Dr Anand Reddy. Dr Anand Reddy, who dedicated the book to his brave patients and his mother Mrs Damayanthi Devi, whom he lost recently, said this is the only book in the world having more than hundred stories of all kinds of cancers. The book as a matter of fact turned out to be the best in the world for cancer patients to seek much needed solace.

In his concluded speech, he said “Though cancer is devastating, What Cancer Cannot Do - It cannot cripple love, It cannot shatter hope, It cannot corrode faith, It cannot silence courage, It cannot invade the soul, It cannot steal eternal life, It cannot conquer the spirit.”