Nigerian health educator Aproko Doctor raised concern about how serious illnesses can develop silently, mimicking common conditions
The doctor warned that persistent stomach symptoms wrongly treated as an ulcer could be masking something far more serious
The death of beloved Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, at 66, has prompted a Nigerian doctor to address a pressing public health concern, explaining how serious illnesses can go undetected for long periods, even in people who appear outwardly healthy...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Ogogo passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026, following a battle with cancer.
His family only disclosed his condition days before his death, leaving many Nigerians puzzled about how someone who had appeared well in public just weeks earlier could be in the advanced stages of the disease.
Aproko Doctor explains how cancer symptoms can resemble ulcer symptoms after Ogogo’s death
Health educator and physician Aproko Doctor took to X on Monday to offer clarity in a series of posts.
He explained that certain serious illnesses, including specific forms of cancer, can progress quietly, producing symptoms that are easily confused with far less severe conditions.
“The uncomfortable truth is that looking healthy does not always mean that everything is fine inside your body. Some serious illnesses can develop quietly, with symptoms that may look like ordinary problems at first,” he wrote.
Aproko Doctor drew particular attention to a habit common among Nigerians: attributing any recurring stomach discomfort to an ulcer.
He was careful to clarify that ulcers do not transform into cancer, but that some stomach cancers can produce symptoms that closely resemble those of an ulcer, making an accurate diagnosis difficult without proper medical testing.
“So someone can keep treating ulcer while the actual cause of the symptoms is being missed,” he noted, adding that returning stomach pain should not simply be managed with the same medication used previously.
Aproko Doctor listed specific warning signs that warrant professional attention, including persistent stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, repeated vomiting, a loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, and feeling full unusually quickly.
He stressed that these symptoms do not automatically point to cancer, but they should not be dismissed either.
He also pushed back against panic, reminding his audience that the majority of stomach pain cases have no serious cause.
His core message was about the danger of treating a condition that was never properly diagnosed.
“Don’t spend months or years treating a diagnosis that was never properly confirmed. If something keeps coming back, find out why,” he urged.
The doctor closed his thread with a condolence message to Ogogo’s family, offering prayers and acknowledging the grief felt across Nigeria.
Ogogo, whose career in Yoruba cinema spanned more than four decades, was laid to rest in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, in accordance with Islamic rites.
