Wole Soyinka talks on How He Survived Cancer

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka yesterday
disclosed that he had been living with prostrate
cancer but was recently cured.
Soyinka made the revelation at a press
conference tagged: "Beyond Ebola and Beyond
Reign of the Silent Killer," held at the June 12
Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The octogenarian, who was flanked by his son,
who is also the Ogun State Commissioner for
Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka and the President/
Founder of the African Cancer Centre, Prof.
Femi Williams, said he lived with the killer
disease for over 10 months while undergoing
treatment.
His younger brother, Prof. Femi Soyinka, was
also part of the audience at the conference.
The senior Soyinka, who clocked 80 years in
August, said he discovered that he was afflicted
with prostrate cancer in December last year.
He, however, said he was finally cured of the
disease on October 28 this year.
The Nobel laureate stated that his public
disclosure of being afflicted with cancer was
borne out of the moral obligation he felt he
owed the society, especially as a member of the
African Cancer Centre, adding that he had to
make his experience with cancer public to
demystify the killer disease, which he assured
was curable.
According to him, the revelation would
encourage others suffering from cancer and
compel those in charge of the health sector to
take the treatment of the disease more
seriously.
He said: "In November, last year, I discovered
that I had cancer and I have been treating it. I
finished treatment on October 28 and that is
why I have come out to tell you this.
"Many people start looking at you as if you are a
ghost; no! It is not a death sentence and it is
curable. I have undergone the treatment and I
even have a certificate and medal to show for it
but I don't normally wear decorations.
"I want to use myself to encourage others to
take whatever test available to you in our limited
circumstances here and more importantly to
encourage those who are in charge of our health
to take the cancer menace seriously."
He advised Nigerians, particularly the
womenfolk to check and test for cancer once
they discover any unusual lump in any part of
their bodies to tackle it before it is too late to
manage.
"There are many ways of managing cancer; even
diet. I have had to drink a lot of water and as
many of you may know, water and I are not really
friends," he said.
Soyinka, who disclosed that unspecified funds
had been earmarked for cancer research, urged
the Federal Government to release the funds.
"We should have a diagnostic centre where
people can go to be tested, treated and cured,"
he added.
Also speaking, the President/Founder of the
African Cancer Centre, Prof. Femi Williams,
lamented the dearth of qualified oncologists in
Nigeria. Williams identified cancer as a major
disease responsible for capital flight from
Nigeria.
"We don't have qualified medical oncologists in
this country and yet we have 220 qualified
oncologists of Nigerian descent in the Diaspora.
"Most of these specialists are willing to come
back home and others have interest in the
African Cancer Centre," he said.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun
Soyinka, explained that the state was working
towards building its own cancer institute.
He appealed to the Federal Government to
ensure that "we build our own cancer
capabilities," expressing regrets that Nigerian
oncologists in the Diaspora had not been given
the opportunity to exhibit their expertise at
home while other countries had taken advantage
of them.
Source: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?
p=92570

Posted by Ogwuche Abel on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - Rating: 4.5

Title : Wole Soyinka talks on How He Survived Cancer
Description : Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka yesterday disclosed that he had been living with prostrate cancer but was recently cured. Soyinka m...

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