How Cancer Symptoms Can Mimic Ulcer, Aproko Doctor Explains After Ogogo’s Death

Medical doctor and health educator, Dr Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has explained to Nigerians that some cancers can develop silently, with symptoms often mistaken for common illnesses such as ulcers.

Egemba explained on Monday while responding to questions about how veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as ‘Ogogo’, could have been diagnosed with stage-four cancer despite appearing healthy weeks before his death.

The actor died at the age of 66 on Sunday, August 23, 2026, after battling cancer.

In a series of posts on X, Aproko Doctor said outward appearance was not always a reliable indication of a person’s internal health.

“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 said.

READ ALSO: 15 things To Know About Late Nollywood Actor Taiwo Hassan, ‘Ogogo’

Addressing questions about ulcers and cancer, he explained that an ulcer does not directly become cancer, but that stomach cancer could produce symptoms commonly attributed to ulcers.

“Ulcer. Can ulcer actually be cancer? Not exactly. An ulcer does not simply turn into cancer. But some cancers, particularly cancers of the stomach, can cause symptoms that people commonly describe as ulcer,” he said.

The doctor urged people experiencing recurring stomach pain to seek proper medical evaluation instead of repeatedly taking medication for presumed ulcers.

“This is why that stomach pain that keeps coming back deserves more attention than simply taking the ulcer drug you used last time,” he said.

“If the symptoms keep returning despite treatment, don’t just keep changing the drug. Go back and investigate what is actually causing them.”

He listed persistent stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and unusually early fullness among symptoms that should prompt medical attention.

Aproko Doctor, however, cautioned Nigerians against assuming that recurring stomach pain automatically means cancer.

“And please, don’t let this thread make you panic every time your stomach hurts. Most stomach pain is not cancer,” he said.

“The point is don’t spend months or years treating a diagnosis that was never properly confirmed. If something keeps coming back, find out why.”

He added that people who were unsure about where to begin could seek medical guidance remotely.

Aproko Doctor’s warning came a day after the death of Ogogo, one of the prominent figures in Yoruba-language cinema.

The actor reportedly died at about 3pm on Sunday after battling stage-four cancer.

His daughters, Kira and Lima Taiwo, had appealed for medical assistance days before his death, saying doctors had informed the family that chemotherapy could no longer be administered because of his condition.

The family subsequently sought alternative treatment options.

Ogogo, whose career spanned more than four decades, featured in hundreds of Nigerian films and became one of the most recognisable faces in Yoruba-language entertainment.

Aproko Doctor also expressed condolences to the actor’s family and loved ones.

“Finally, to the family of Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, Ogogo: Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones and everyone mourning him. May his soul rest in peace,” he wrote.