Wole Soyinka opens up on how he's been battling cancer

Renowned playwright and Nobel
Laureate, Prof. Oluwole Soyinka, has
disclosed his health status.
The maverick writer announced that he
was diagnosed of cancer last December.
An expert and Founder of African
Cancer Centre, Lagos, Prof. Olu
Williams, however assured Soyinka that
he would “not die of cancer.”
Williams, who revealed that Soyinka had
the disease because of his old age, said
the playwright will only “die with the
ailment.”
Soyinka, who revealed his cancer status
at a press conference at the June 12
Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State,
today, said he had decided to open up
so as to create awareness about cancer
disease and to help people take
measures to prevent it or seek prompt
medical attention for cure.
The Nobel Laureate said he survived the
silent killer disease because of early
detection, treatment and proper
dieting, adding that it has also dawned
on him that the family has a history of
cancer ailment.
He noted that his initial reaction when
it dawned on that he has cancer was to
see it as one of those challenges and
nuisance that should be dealt with,
adding that a time he considered it “an
unwanted squatter in his body and had
to get rid of it whether it is a slow
growing one or malignant.”
Soyinka who showed a crest to attest to
his surviving the disease, did not reveal
to reporters the nature of the cancer he
was treated for.
His son, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, who is
also the Commissioner for Health in
Ogun State, later told The Nation his
father was treated for “prostate
cancer.”