A medical doctor, Olusina Ajidahun, has clarified the meaning of palliative care following claims by the daughters of veteran Yoruba actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, that hospitals had stopped treating their father, who is battling stage-four cancer.

Ajidahun, who is known as The Bearded Dr Sina on X, said the description of the actor’s situation as hospitals “refusing to treat” him could be misunderstood, particularly when a patient has advanced cancer and available curative treatment options have been exhausted.

Reacting to videos posted by Ogogo’s daughters on Monday, the doctor explained that patients with stage-four cancer may be moved to palliative care after chemotherapy and other appropriate treatment options have been explored.

He said palliative care focuses on managing symptoms, relieving suffering and improving the quality of life of patients living with serious or terminal illnesses.

“They don’t want to treat my father again. This is a dangerous statement and can set the tide against the medical team treating her Dad,” Ajidahun wrote.

He added: “When patients have stage 4 cancer and chemo and/or other therapies have been explored. There is a form of care called PALLIATIVE CARE.. which is end-of-life care and care for terminal diseases because at the point of the disease you cannot treat it, but you can manage associated symptoms and give the person a good quality of life before death.”

The doctor further cautioned that describing the situation as a deliberate refusal by hospitals could create a negative perception of healthcare workers and potentially expose medical personnel to hostility.

“Saying they don’t want to treat my father makes it look like they are intentionally rejecting him, and in the context of recent happenings in the health sector, it can trigger an insurrection and put a bad label on health care workers,” he said.

Doctor Warns Against Herbal Remedies

Ajidahun also warned members of the public against recommending unverified herbal remedies as a treatment for stage-four cancer.

He said there was no scientific basis for claims that herbal concoctions could cure advanced cancer and warned that such substances could cause additional complications.

“IF YOU HAVE HERBS that treat cancer. Don’t do this.. There are no herbs that will treat a stage 4 cancer. These concoctions will end up damaging more organs and causing more complications. You’d end up wasting money and causing more problems,” he said.

Explaining the meaning of stage-four cancer, the doctor said the disease had spread beyond the organ where it originally developed.

“People need to understand that Stage 4 cancer means the cancer has left the primary organ and gone to other sites. Your Doctor knows what’s best, and it is good you work hand in hand with the team to give the best productivity,” he added.

Ajidahun expressed sympathy with Ogogo’s family and urged them to continue working closely with the medical team handling the actor’s case.

“I do hope Ogogo’s daughter and family see this. Wishing the family all the best throughout the trying times,” he said.

The doctor, however, clarified that he was not part of Ogogo’s medical team and was offering his comments independently in response to the videos posted by the actor’s daughters.

Ogogo’s Daughters Appeal For Medical Help

NewsMediaNG had earlier reported that Ogogo’s daughters, Lima and Kira Taiwo, separately appealed for help over their father’s deteriorating health condition.

In a video posted on Instagram on Monday, Lima said the actor was seriously ill and claimed that hospitals were refusing to continue treating him.

“Hello everybody, good evening. I’m here to ask for help from my daddy. He has cancer and it’s really, really bad.

“And the hospitals are refusing to treat him. At least, please, give this man a chance. Nobody wants to do anything,” she said.

Lima said the family only became aware of the seriousness of the actor’s condition about three weeks earlier, explaining that his physical appearance had initially given little indication of the severity of the illness.

“You see him, you can’t even know that. Something is wrong that bad. It’s just starting to show. We didn’t even know until like three weeks ago,” she said.

She stressed that the family was not appealing for financial donations but for medical assistance and access to healthcare professionals who could take on her father’s case.

“Please, I’m begging you. If you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, anything, we’re willing to try anything. We’re not here to ask for money. Nobody’s here to ask for money,” she said.

Lima also acknowledged the assistance provided by a relative during the family’s difficult period.

“My big uncle has helped a lot. He has been of great help. Like, nobody even knew that he would show up for us this way,” she said.

She became emotional as she appealed for intervention, saying she could not bear to watch her father die.

“But if he’s willing to do anything, please, if you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, would you really appreciate it? Please, I can’t watch my daddy die. I can’t. I can’t. Please. Please, I’m begging you. Please. Please,” she said.

Daughter Says Cancer Is At Stage Four

In a separate Instagram video, Kira Taiwo also appealed for medical assistance, disclosing that her father’s cancer was at stage four.

“Hello everyone, I’m here for my daddy. He has cancer and is in stage 4. The hospital is saying that they cannot treat him again, like they can’t give him chemo again,” she said.

Kira appealed to individuals, medical professionals and healthcare facilities capable of providing further cancer treatment to contact the family.

She reiterated that the family was not seeking money but medical intervention that could potentially give their father another chance.

“What I’m here for, what I’m here for is that if you can treat my daddy, if you can start chemo for him, whether it’s medical or herbs, please, I’m begging you, guys, I’m begging you, any help, anything, anybody that you know that can treat cancer, please, please, I’m begging you,” she said.

She urged anyone with knowledge of a doctor or medical facility capable of treating cancer to contact her, her sister or the actor.

“Please, please, if you can treat my daddy, please send me a DM. I’ll be checking my phone. Please, I don’t want my daddy to die,” Kira said.

The actress became emotional while speaking about her father’s condition, saying she had never seen him experience such severe pain.

“God, give me strength. I’m suffering so bad. There’s no money, but if you know anybody that can treat my daddy, Andrew, please,” she said.

Kira also disclosed that her father had expressed his fear of death.

“He’s saying that he doesn’t want to die. Please, I’ve never seen my daddy in that kind of pain before,” she said.

Who Is Taiwo Hassan?

Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, is a veteran Nigerian actor whose career in the Nigerian film industry spans more than four decades.

The 66-year-old actor is one of the most recognisable figures in Yoruba-language cinema and has featured in more than 300 films throughout his career.

His daughters’ appeals have generated widespread concern among fans, colleagues and members of the public, while the latest medical clarification has highlighted the distinction between continued medical care and treatment aimed at curing advanced-stage cancer.

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