Following the death of Nollywood actor Alex Ekubo, Dr Sina Ajidahun has highlighted seven ways Nigerians can prevent liver cancer and protect themselves from the disease. Widespread reports attribute Ekubo's death to a long battle with Stage 4 liver cancer, which he had reportedly been battling since 2024. This has triggered an increase in public interest in liver cancer and how to protect oneself from the illness, prompting a doctor to offer expert guidelines.
Alex Ekubo's Death and Liver Cancer
Nollywood actor Alex Ekubo died on May 11 at a Lagos hospital, triggering nationwide mourning, especially among his colleagues in the entertainment industry, as well as his fans, associates, and loved ones. Many took to social media to pay tributes and speak on his legacy. Legit.ng learnt that the actor passed away at age 40 after a prolonged battle with Stage 4 liver cancer. Ekubo was reportedly diagnosed with liver cancer in 2024 and returned to work after undergoing a liver transplant. However, his liver reportedly failed again, leading to complications, and his condition deteriorated until his passing.
Statistics on Liver Cancer in Nigeria
According to PubMed Central, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a disease of public health concern in Nigeria, with chronic hepatitis B and C infections contributing most to the disease burden. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. Liver cancer is a major public health crisis in Nigeria, ranking as the 6th most common cancer and the 5th leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with an incidence rate of roughly 11–20 per 100,000 population. Globally, liver cancer is the 6th most common cancer and the 3rd leading cause of cancer death globally, with over 866,000 new cases and 758,000 deaths in 2022, according to The Lancet issue.
Preventive Measures Against Liver Cancer
Ekubo's death led to many searching the net for answers about how one could prevent liver cancer, and a medical doctor, Dr Sina Ajidahun, has educated the public on the illness. In a tweet on May 12, Dr Sina, via his verified handle @the_beardedsina, highlighted seven ways you could protect yourself from liver cancer. The medical practitioner's liver cancer preventive approaches are as follows:
- Cut alcohol totally: Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for liver cancer. Eliminating alcohol can significantly reduce the risk.
- Get your Hepatitis B vaccine: Hepatitis B infection is a leading cause of liver cancer. Vaccination provides effective protection.
- Avoid taking mouldy groundnuts and mouldy tomatoes (Ata Esha): Mouldy foods contain aflatoxins, which are potent carcinogens linked to liver cancer.
- Aflatoxin: Aflatoxin exposure from contaminated foods is a known cause of liver cancer. Ensure food is stored properly and avoid moldy items.
- Practice safe intimacy and don't share needles: Unsafe sex and needle sharing can transmit Hepatitis B and C, which increase liver cancer risk.
- Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C infection is a major contributor to liver cancer. Testing and treatment are important.
- Cut smoking tobacco and get liver screening: Smoking is a risk factor for many cancers, including liver cancer. Regular screening can detect early signs.
Dr Sina further encouraged people to go for screening and tests, stressing that certain issues could be identified early on and acted upon.
Associate Speaks on Cause of Ekubo's Death
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Alex Ekubo's associate had disclosed the cause of his death. The actor's reported death had earlier thrown the entertainment industry into mourning after colleagues and fans woke up to the shocking news on Tuesday. While many people questioned what may have led to the sudden loss of the actor, filmmaker and close associate Stanley Ontop has now shared what he described as Alex's secret health battle. In a now-trending Instagram post, Stanley alleged that Alex Ekubo had been battling stage 4 liver cancer since 2024. According to him, the actor quietly underwent treatment and even had a liver transplant in a bid to survive the illness. He explained that although the movie star briefly returned to work after the procedure, complications later developed after the transplanted liver reportedly failed again. The actor's shocking death broke many hearts.
