Speaking at the June 12 cultural Centre in Abeokuta, the widely acclaimed literary maestro revealed that due to his appointment as a board member of the African Cancer Centre, he had to take a routine checkup in December 2013 and that was when he was told he was living cancer.
The 80 year old political commentator said “”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“.
Soyinka explained that he came out to make this revelation to create awareness on cancer and to let people know that cancer is not the end of your life or the world itself.
“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. 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.” he said.
Soyinka explained that he was able to rid himself of the disease due to early detection and following his medications which he finally ended on October 28, 2014. He was diagnosed free of cancer last month. Based on a report by The Nation, Soyinka, according to his son, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, suffered from prostate cancer.
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