‘Day I almost signed my own death certificate’

Could you tell us about your book and what prompted you to write it? Having gone through the stages of being diagnosed with cancer, the treatment and recovery I felt I should write about my experience and what exactly happened. I wrote my first in 1976 – ‘Beyond the tripod in Nigerian Politics’. I participated […]

Could you tell us about your book and what prompted you to write it?

Having gone through the stages of being diagnosed with cancer, the treatment and recovery I felt I should write about my experience and what exactly happened. I wrote my first in 1976 – ‘Beyond the tripod in Nigerian Politics’. I participated in the June 12 elections which brought about the book, ‘Tale of June 12’ written in 2008.

Today, I may not be able to play football but I can at least say that I am okay. I am telling people my story beyond cancer and also give hope to cancer patients and other survivors. I decided to pick pen and paper to respond to the questions as to why I left I Abuja for the US and what happened there.

People have asked if at the time, I knew I had cancer and what I would have done if I did. This is hypothetical question. I am not sure what I would have done.

I went through series of scans with no one seeming to know what the problem was. What proved impossible in Abuja when I got to Boston in a matter of hours it was possible. From the airport I was taken to the theatre and a diagnosis was made that I had spinal cord compression. It was also discovered that I had eight cancerous tumours. Further studies revealed a category 4 metastatic prostate cancer which had gone beyond the prostate to my lungs, bones and pelvis. I had two worries: one was my spine and the second the fact that I couldn’t walk.

Having been diagnosed I had to go for radiation. I had eight sessions, spent some time rehabilitating and also time going through chemotherapy. It was a three way step of surgery, rehabilitation and chemotherapy.

How did this all affect you?

Nobody at the National Hospital, Abuja could tell from scans or blood tests what the problem was. I was given muscle relaxing medication after I complained of pains. This relieved me but on for some minutes before going back to square one. I was virtually crippled by the time I arrived America.

The closest they came to diagnosing my problem was when they asked me to do an MRI in Abuja. But the doctor in Boston advised against because I had pellets from bullets still in my body from a robbery attack where I was shot at ion 1994. I still carry eight of those pellets.

I didn’t even get a bed space, as I was immediately taken in for surgery and was told that I could have died if I had wasted more time. I had to sign all the documentation myself. You could even say I sort of signed my own death certificate.

It was a most traumatic period especially when I overheard the nurses discussing me and mention cancer. Cancer was the least option on my mind. The knowledge of that devastated me. I went into denial, I cried my eyes out. It felt like it was someone else being talked about. But I asked myself if it were possible they could be telling a lie. I went into depression, became aggressive but as a Christian reconciled to the fact that everything happens for a purpose and began praying.

Then concerns arose as the cancer started spreading to other parts. I knew I could die. But it is not in me to give up and I had the will to survive. Some didn’t think I would ever walk again. I am okay and quite independent with doing things for myself but with a lot of moderation. Through my book I want to pass on the will to survive. Today the count is .1 but when I at diagnosis it was 2443. Maybe God spared me for another purpose.

How did your family take it?

Cancer can kill families. Prostate because it affects the sex life the way breast cancer affects women. I am not concerned about that because I am done with child bearing. The thing is for one to have a wife who understands your situation.

Apart from erectal dysfunction there is also incontinence to contend with. There is also finance which can constrain the family as one cannot put a finger to when spending on treatment will end or if after it all the end result will be death. These things take a toll on family. Abroad it is easy to manage these things so that you don’t become a nuisance to family but here the aged and people in such situations don’t have facilities in place for them.

What do you intend to achieve with the book?

Men should talk to men, women should talk to women. This is the reason I wrote my story and the goal I intend for it to achieve. Recently I attended an event where I met over one thousand eight hundred survivors in Vermont. You marvel when you see some and cry when you see others. The good thing is the ones you pity don’t want to be pitied. We shared and encouraged one another. In praying I remind God of His promises that he has not created us to suffer.

With your experience at the National Hospital what would you say about our health system?

We are at a stage where there should be a specialist hospital for such purpose. I ask myself if it is that the equipment are too expensive for government to afford. We may have the man power but the lack of facility makes us look incompetent. See the UN blast and us having to take patients to South Africa. I mean we should have gone past this. I built the Bwari law school amongst other notable things. It is time for Nigeria to look after me and those like me who have served her.