Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has revealed how he battled prostrate cancer and survived it. He revealed this on Tuesday November 25, 2014 at a press conference which took place at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Prof. Soyinka said he was first diagnosed in December 2013 and after serious treatment and medications, he was cancer free last month on October 28.
His words below:
“For me, this is not a decision which I like but I felt I have all obligation, being a member of African Cancer Centre, and also having even donated a performance during the festival, fund raising for cancer, I am under obligation to make it known and to also demystify cancer.”
He noted that the disease was not a death sentence; and he made his point, “Many people feel it is a death sentence. Family feel it; friends, colleagues, they begin to look at you as if you are a ghost once there is rumour you have cancer. No, cancer is not a death sentence, it is curable, I have undergone the treatment and I am able to tell you that I even have a model, that’s my certificate.”
The Nobel Laureate revealed how he found out:
“It never occurred to me to test myself because men have their separate test like women,” “And I have heard people who lost very dear ones, closed ones. They just told me, ‘Prof, we hope you’re having your own?’ And I told them I had one 10 years ago and he said, “No, no, do it regularly.” And by accident in December last year, I discovered that I had cancer.”
P.S
Early testing is key to prevention. Get tested today!
