'U'khand sees over 6,000 cancer deaths annually, want to make difference'

Dehradun: Rahul Kumar, a resident of Tanakpur in Champawat district, views his success in cracking the NEET by scoring 546 out of 720 marks as a stepping stone towards realising his ambition of working in the field of oncology.

Rahul has been residing in Dehradun since 2020, solely focusing on his NEET exam preparation. He would occasionally visit his family in Tanakpur on special occasions.

"While my initial interest was in cardiology due to my father's previous cardiac issues, circumstances changed when he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Unfortunately, he passed away in February this year due to complications related to the disease. Even before that, I discovered the alarming statistic that over 6,000 individuals lose their lives to cancer each year in Uttarakhand alone. I am determined to contribute to preventing such tragedies, particularly in rural areas. These figures merely scratch the surface, and the actual reality may be even more disheartening," said Kumar.

Hailing from a modest farming background, Rahul's family relies on his older brother's income to meet their needs. He completed his primary education in Uttar Pradesh.