MUMBAI: Renowned disc jockey and music producer Adir Tal, better known as DJ DiJiTAL, today announced that he has been battling testicular cancer since his diagnosis on 14 February, 2013. The 24-year old has kept up a fast-paced touring schedule during treatment and chose to announce his diagnosis during National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week in order to inspire other young people facing cancer to be strong and positive.

He also highlighted the help he has been receiving from the Livestrong Foundation through its free cancer support services, in which anyone affected by cancer -- whether you have cancer, or are a loved one, friend, health care professional or caregiver of someone diagnosed -- can receive confidential, one-on-one guidance dealing with the emotional, financial and practical challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis.

DJ DiJiTAL said the Livestrong Foundation has “been incredible to me. They've helped me anywhere from teaming me up with some of the greatest doctors in the world to just talking to me. With the platform of Livestrong behind me, it's allowed me to open up and go public with it and help other people. I want to encourage other people to live life to the fullest, to go and care a little bit more about their health.”

"This is an opportunity for me to really do something bigger, something more influential, something that I can actually help you with, help people that do have cancer, help people that don't have cancer, help someone be more positive in their day-to-day life. I want you all to know that my spirits have never been higher and I will not allow something like this to slow me down on my path to fulfilling my dream," he added.

Livestrong Foundation president and CEO Doug Ulman said, "We are honoured to be supporting such a spirited and strong individual and look forward to working with DJ DiJiTAL in our continued fight for adolescents and young adults who are affected by cancer. This age group is affected at one of the most critical times in their lives, and we are glad that DJ DiJiTAL is joining our efforts as a key voice calling for more efforts to address their needs."

Adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer are often caught between the worlds of pediatric and adult oncology. Factors that impact survivorship in young adults include lack of insurance, less participation in clinical trials and delayed diagnoses. They may face a variety of unique long-term effects that will need to be addressed over their lifetimes, such as reentry into school or the workforce, insurance coverage issues, infertility as a result of treatment, neurocognitive effects or secondary malignancies.

The Foundation is expanding its adolescent and young adult cancer work, currently leading a study in collaboration with the Livestrong Survivorship Center of Excellence Network directors to improve long-term health outcomes for cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 39. The survey will test the impact of providing the essential elements of day-to-day survivorship care; provide evidence supporting long-term follow-up recommendations; determine effective methods of communication; and serve as a platform for interventions that will improve outcomes and quality of life in young adults.

The Livestrong Foundation's free cancer support services are available in English and Spanish online, by phone and in person for anyone affected by cancer. The Foundation began providing these services online and by phone in 2004. In 2011, the Foundation opened the Livestrong Cancer Navigation Center, co-located at the Livestrong Foundation Headquarters in the underserved part of the city in East Austin. This marked an expansion of their cancer support services to include an in-person option. The Center is one of just two facilities of its kind in the US.