During the highly anticipated launch of India's Sun mission, Aditya-L1, ISRO's esteemed head, Dr. S. Somanath, was grappling with a cancer diagnosis.
In an interview, Somanath confirmed the grim discovery during scanning. He navigated through health complications even as the Chandrayaan-3 mission was underway, with the diagnosis becoming clear on the day of the Aditya mission, causing distress for both him and his family.
Source: aajtak
All of his fellow scientists were deeply moved by the news. Despite the challenging times, he maintained composure, supporting his family and ISRO colleagues. After the launch, he underwent abdominal scanning, which revealed the illness, genetically inherited, afflicting him with stomach cancer.
Shortly after, cancer was confirmed, and Somanath proceeded with surgery followed by continuous chemotherapy. The family was in shock, but now, there's no cause for alarm. He has undergone treatment and is recovering, with ongoing medication. During this period, his family and colleagues have provided immense support.
"Time is needed, but I will conquer this battle,"
says Somanath, explaining that his treatment is a long journey, yet one he is determined to fight. His recovery has been significant. After only four days in the hospital, he returned to his responsibilities. By the fifth day, he resumed work at ISRO without any pain.
Somanath continues to undergo regular medical check-ups and scans, and he is now fully recovered. He remains focused on his work and ISRO's future missions, determined to complete them successfully.
