Doctor urges proper medical evaluation as questions arise over Ogogo’s stage-four cancer diagnosis
Medical doctor and health educator, Dr. Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has urged Nigerians to take recurring stomach symptoms seriously, warning that some cancers can develop silently and may initially resemble common ailments such as ulcers.
Aproko Doctor raised the concern on Monday in a series of posts on X while responding to questions surrounding the death of veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who died after battling stage-four cancer.
The doctor explained that a person appearing healthy does not necessarily mean that there is no serious illness developing internally.
“The uncomfortable truth is that looking healthy does not always mean that everything is fine inside your body. Some serious illnesses can develop quietly, with symptoms that may look like ordinary problems at first,” he wrote.
Cancer may mimic ulcer symptoms
Addressing a question about whether an ulcer could become cancerous, Aproko Doctor clarified that an ulcer itself does not simply transform into cancer. However, he noted that cancers affecting the stomach can produce symptoms that are often mistaken for ulcer.
“Ulcer. Can an ulcer actually be cancer? Not exactly. An ulcer does not simply turn into cancer. But some cancers, particularly cancers of the stomach, can cause symptoms that people commonly describe as ulcer,” he said.
He therefore advised people experiencing persistent or recurring stomach pain not to rely indefinitely on previously prescribed ulcer medication without determining the underlying cause.
According to him, repeated self-medication can delay the diagnosis of a potentially serious condition.
“This is why that stomach pain that keeps coming back deserves more attention than simply taking the ulcer drug you used last time. If the symptoms keep returning despite treatment, don’t just keep changing the drug. Go back and investigate what is actually causing them,” he said.
Symptoms that require medical attention
Aproko Doctor listed several symptoms that should prompt medical evaluation, particularly when they persist or recur. They include persistent stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and feeling unusually full.
He stressed, however, that such symptoms should not automatically be interpreted as signs of cancer.
“And please, don’t let this thread make you panic every time your stomach hurts. Most stomach pain is not cancer,” he said.
The key issue, he explained, is ensuring that recurring symptoms are properly investigated rather than repeatedly treated based on an unconfirmed assumption.
“The point is don’t spend months or years treating a diagnosis that was never properly confirmed. If something keeps coming back, find out why,” he added.
He also noted that people who are uncertain about where to begin could seek medical guidance from home before deciding on the next appropriate step.
Ogogo’s death sparks concern
Aproko Doctor’s comments came a day after the death of Ogogo at the age of 66 following a battle with stage-four cancer.
The veteran actor died at about 3pm on Sunday, August 23, 2026, according to a burial announcement made by fellow actor Jide Kosoko.
In the days leading up to his death, Ogogo’s daughters, Kira and Lima Taiwo, had sought medical assistance after doctors reportedly informed the family that chemotherapy could no longer be administered because of his condition.
The family subsequently said it was exploring other treatment options.
Ogogo was one of the prominent figures in Yoruba-language cinema, with a career spanning more than four decades. Over the course of his career, he featured in hundreds of films and became a recognisable name in Nigeria’s indigenous film industry.
Aproko Doctor mourns veteran actor
In a separate message, Aproko Doctor extended his condolences to Ogogo’s family, loved ones and admirers following the actor’s death.
“Finally, to the family of Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, Ogogo: Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones and everyone mourning him. May his soul rest in peace,” he wrote.
His warning has also renewed attention on the importance of seeking proper medical evaluation when symptoms persist, rather than assuming that recurring pain is simply the same condition previously experienced.
While stomach pain is common and often has causes unrelated to cancer, the doctor’s message was that persistent or unexplained symptoms should not be ignored—particularly when they fail to improve with treatment.