How I Survived Cancer

The Starting Point

It all started with back pain, knee pain, sometimes neck pain, and a general feeling of malaise like light rheumatism. I was told the pain might be osteoporosis or ergonomic issues. I had to change my car to have a comfortable seat, I changed my furniture and I started having regular physiotherapy sessions. Sometimes around March 2016, I traveled to Akwa Ibom. On returning, I started having some tingling feeling on my toes. I felt so uncomfortable and was concerned. I had to go to the clinic to explain my feelings to the doctor. Tests were conducted, and I was told that everything appears ok except a little elevation of Urate. This means that it is either the kidney is not processing all the protein, or the body is having more protein than necessary which causes uric acid to form in the body. So, I was advised to cut down on protein and was given medication to address it. However, things were not getting better. I was eating just vegetables and plantain. I cut away all proteins and carbohydrates.

My Observations

Around August 2016, I became suspicious of my toilet habit. I could not pass anything out without strain. I went to the clinic twice but no serious indication. I started seeing some mucus and later smear of blood. I was concerned because I have been eating only vegetables and plantain and as such should not have constipation. The smear of blood scared me. So, returning home I saw a consultant but was not taken too seriously. I was given Anusol suppository. I was still not feeling well. A nurse friend of mine suspected possible tear in the rectum that made me more determined to solve the problem.

The Diagnosis

I decided to proceed to Lagoon hospital, Apapa where the doctors thought it was a pile. I requested for Colonoscopy. When it was done, a tumour was discovered in the sigmoid colon. I approached my company clinic with the report and further tests were ordered to ascertain the extent. The histology showed malignancy but the CT scan showed it has not spread. So I was booked for operation immediately…During the preparation for the operation, I met an anesthesiologist at the company clinic who briefed me on what she was going to do…Total knock out with oxygen mask and tubes etc…That was when it dawned on me that it was a serious thing…I was moved to tears because I had never been admitted into a hospital in my life…I don’t fall sick except for malaria…But I summoned courage and told her I would be fine.

My Fears

A lot of thoughts went through my mind. I felt perhaps, my assignment here was finished and it might be time to return to rest with God. But I was still hopeful that I had more to achieve and that God would spare my life. It was a moment of doubt and faith. I just needed internal peace.

My Actions

I started putting my house in order. My goal was to make everyone around me comfortable. I prepared for the worst but hoped for the best. I told my family not to worry that I will be fine. I relocated my family into a new estate for ease of movement and comfort and handed over all ATM cards and property documents.

The Journey

On Jan 23, 2017, I checked into the hospital. I asked every member of my family and my in-laws to stay at home. There was no need to panic. I told them I will come back, but if I don’t they should not cry. They should move on. It was my way of psychologically dealing with uncertainties and pain.  I called a close friend of mine to be on standby on the day of surgery. He was the only access my family members had to get an update.
One of the doctors asked me, during a ward round if I knew the procedure the consultant will use. I said no. She said the consultant might cut the bowel and attach a bag and I will go with the shit bag for 6-weeks and come for a second operation. Again, I was moved to tears but consoled myself with readings from the book of Psalms. Then the consultant called me on the phone that he would not do that. That he will cut the bad part off and joined the remaining part immediately. I was relieved.
So, the day of the operation came, I was prepped for theater by 12:30 pm and was taken to the theater by 2:30 pm. I came out of the theater by 7:30 pm having spent around 5hours.
During the operation, my bladder was touched which necessitated repairs. That extended the operation hours. I was on a catheter for 2 weeks. After the operation I could not eat or drink for 14-days and for another 30days there was no appetite.
At a point, I started reacting to Flagyl with serious vomiting and weakness. So, a tube was passed from my nose into my stomach to evacuate fluid.

The Good news and The Bad News

The excised part was sent to South Africa for analysis and the result confirmed that the operation was successful but the tumour was malignant.
So, I was asked to see a retired LUTH oncologist consultant who recommended Chemotherapy. I also met with the surgeon who told me that it was a Stage 3 cancer. The good news was it was just starting, and the operation was successful. In his words “You don’t have a choice, you have to do chemotherapy”
That was a shocker. I never thought I would ever do chemo in my life. I eventually agreed with the doctors.
They inserted Pot Cath into my chest which was another 1-hour surgery and connected it to my jugular vein (I still carry it in my chest). During this procedure, I felt like running away. I was tired and frustrated.
I commenced chemotherapy and my bone marrow was weak and immunity was failing.
I was always given Neupogen injection to boost immunity, but many times it would still fall. In fact, within 2 days, it will fall to zero…hence I was quarantined for a total of 5weeks. At a point, we mastered the immunity and how to control it.

The Fun

While in the hospital, I became a ward-prefect as everyone comes and leaves me behind. The hospital gave me a special ward because of immunity issues. They did not want a secondary infection. At a point I started assisting some patients, catching fun with the nurses and other medical personnel. Simply living life one day at a time.

Other Challenging moments

After we mastered immunity control, the platelet dropped from 190,000 to 20,000. This was a critical condition. I had to take a blood transfusion immediately. The transfusion raised the platelet to 38,000 but we still needed raw platelet. No platelet in the entire Lagos state. Even LUTH was not reliable. We headed to Babcock hospital (God bless them). We initially got 2 bags out of 7 bags requested and later we got another 3 bags making a total of 5 bags. Platelet was that scarce. The 5 bags boosted it to 70,000
I was due for another chemo session, then the consultant told the doctors to hold further treatment otherwise the chemo might kill me. So, I asked the doctor to allow me to go home with the agreement that I will be sending the blood test results every 2 days.
When I got home within 2 days platelet was 90,000 by the third day it was 120,000 so I went back to the hospital and continued the chemo.
Then body temperature started running away from 37-degree C to 38.5-degree C within minutes. We overcame that after several administrations of paracetamol.
Later blood sugar spiked up to 356 so I placed on metformin and another drug but eventually landed on insulin injection. After months of injections and chemo completion, the blood sugar reversed itself.
At a point, I was having serious bowel upset and constipation. Many nights I will be restless and would not be able to sleep. The nurses will be worried and just be praying.

The Recovery

I completed the 6 sessions of chemo infusion and chemo drug and started recuperating. All the post-treatment tests were good. This year I had a colonoscopy review and the result was normal now. The operation site has improved. I had MRI scans and all organs are ok. My bodyweight that dropped to 59kg came back to 85kg. The CEA marker that was 10 dropped to 0.6

In all these I never doubted God, but I was ready for death as well. I took life easy, trusting God, praying, singing, listening to messages, watching Yoruba comedy movies, comedy shows, and documentaries. I stayed connected with people on the phone and was added to the Olivet97 WhatsApp group. Some friends and colleagues came visiting. I must acknowledge Christianah Okogbe for making out time out of her busy scheduled to check on me in the hospital and for her words of encouragement. I’m also very grateful to Tunde Afolabi and Lanre for checking on me at home even though we never knew one another except on Olivet97 group WhatsApp.

I appreciate the immense support, care, and prayers from my family, especially my wife and kids that I deliberately shielded from seeing me go through the agony and pain.  It was a delight to have you all after the operation and to celebrate my birthday in the hospital. And my final appreciation goes to Lagoon hospital and also to my company clinic management, the clinic staff, nurses, and doctors for your professionalism, faith, and compassion. I believe we have very good and smart healthcare professionals in this country and you are amongst the best. Thank you all.

This was a period when I redefined life. Thanks to God for sparing my life.