A medical doctor, identified as The_Bearded_Dr_Sina has clarified the meaning of palliative care after the daughters of veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, claimed that hospitals were refusing to continue treating their father, who is battling stage four cancer.
Ogogo’s daughters, Lima and Kira Taiwo, had raised concerns over their father’s condition in emotional social media posts, appealing for medical assistance and stressing that they were seeking professional help rather than financial donations.
Reacting to the development, the medical practitioner explained that moving a patient with advanced cancer to palliative care does not necessarily mean doctors have abandoned or refused to treat the patient.
According to him, patients with stage four cancer may be moved to palliative care after chemotherapy and other available disease directed treatments have been explored or are no longer appropriate.
He said the focus of palliative care is to manage symptoms, relieve pain and improve the patient’s quality of life.
The doctor also cautioned that describing the situation as hospitals refusing to treat Ogogo could create a misunderstanding about the medical team’s decisions and potentially turn public sentiment against the healthcare workers involved. He urged the family to work closely with the medical team managing the actor’s condition and allow qualified doctors to determine the most appropriate treatment approach.
The_Bearded_Dr_Sina further warned the public against recommending unverified herbal remedies for stage four cancer. He stressed that there are no herbal concoctions that can cure stage four cancer and warned that some unverified substances could damage other organs, worsen complications and result in wasted resources.
Explaining the meaning of stage four cancer, the doctor said it indicates that the cancer has spread from its original location to other parts of the body, making treatment considerably more complex.
The clarification comes amid growing public concern over Ogogo’s health, generating widespread concern among fans and colleagues, while his family continues to seek the best possible medical options for him.
Ogogo’s daughter, Lima, also dismissed reports circulating on social media that the actor had died, urging the public to disregard the false reports.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
