Ogogo: Doctor Explains What ‘No More Treatment’ Could Mean in Stage-Four Cancer Care
A medical doctor, Dr Ajidahun, popularly known as The Bearded Dr Sina on X, has offered medical context to claims that hospitals are no longer willing to treat veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.
The doctor said the statement from the actor’s daughters could be misunderstood as an indication that healthcare workers had deliberately abandoned their father.
In a post on Monday, Dr Sina explained that patients with advanced cancer may transition from active cancer treatment to palliative care when available therapies, including chemotherapy, have been exhausted or are no longer considered beneficial.
He said palliative care is not the same as abandoning a patient.
According to him, the approach focuses on controlling pain and other symptoms while improving the patient’s comfort and quality of life when the underlying disease can no longer be cured.
Dr Sina particularly took issue with the description that hospitals were “refusing to treat” Hassan.
He said such wording could create a negative perception of the medical team and suggest that healthcare workers were intentionally denying the actor care.
The doctor urged families dealing with advanced cancer to work closely with the treating medical team to understand the available options and the reasons behind treatment decisions.
His comments followed separate appeals by Hassan’s daughters, Lima and Kira Taiwo, who recently sought medical assistance for their father.
In a video shared on Instagram, Lima said the actor’s health had significantly deteriorated and claimed that hospitals were unwilling to continue treating him.
She appealed to anyone with access to medical specialists or facilities capable of taking on Hassan’s case to contact the family.
Lima also said the family had only become aware of the seriousness of his condition about three weeks earlier. She stressed that the appeal was not for money.
In another video, Kira said doctors had told the family that chemotherapy was no longer an option at the hospital where Hassan was receiving care.
She appealed for any possible medical intervention and said the family was willing to explore different options.
Doctor warns against unverified cancer remedies
Dr Sina also cautioned the public against directing the family towards unverified herbal remedies as an alternative to established cancer care.
He argued that such preparations could potentially cause additional complications, particularly in a patient already dealing with advanced disease.
The doctor further explained that stage-four cancer generally means the cancer has spread from its original site to other parts of the body.
He encouraged the family to continue engaging with qualified healthcare professionals when considering treatment or supportive-care options.
Hassan, 66, has spent more than four decades in Nigeria’s film industry and has appeared in more than 300 movies.
He remains a prominent figure in Yoruba cinema.
As of the time of publication, neither Hassan’s family nor his management had publicly disclosed the specific type of cancer he has, the hospital treating him, or detailed medical information about his condition.
The family’s appeals, however, have prompted an outpouring of concern from colleagues and members of the public seeking ways to support the veteran actor.
