Cancer survivor KU teacher on mission ‘early detection’

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, October 28

Having fought cancer 24 years ago, assistant professor at Kurukshetra University Vinod Kumar is now working to develop a smart technique for the early detection of lung cancer.

He is analysing a database of cancer patients in the USA under Dr Brijesh Bakariya of Jalandhar-based Punjab Technical University (PTU).

“Since database of patients in India is not publicly available, I am making use of CT scan data of patients treated in the US. We also need to sensitise people here to allow the use of their medical details for research purposes,” said the 46-year-old teacher-researcher.

Today, he is flying to Toronto to take part in an event related to lung cancer awareness month.

Working on contract basis with the Department of Computer Science and Applications (CSA) since 2013, Kumar was diagnosed with stage-2 lung cancer in December 1994.

He thanks his wife Neelam and students of JMIT, a private engineering college at Yamunanagar’s Radaur town, for supporting him during those tough days.

“As I was undergoing cancer treatment at a naturopathy centre in Rajasthan, my girlfriend Neelam (now my wife) committed to wait until my treatment was over. She motivated me to pursue my PhD,” he said.

“As my parents had meagre financial resources during my treatment days, I worked as a technician for 13 years at the Radaur-based institute. But even then, I used to offer guidance to computer engineering students. My student Amit Taneja encouraged me to improve my qualification and sent me money from Australia to study further,” he said.

Prof Rakesh Kumar, Chairperson of KU’s CSA, says, “Besides being a committed teacher, Kumar regularly holds motivational sessions for cancer patients and caregivers.”