Ex-CAN President Oritsejafor recounts battle with cancer, rare infection in US
Founder of Word of Life Bible Church, Ayo Oritsejafor, has narrated how he survived cancer and a rare infection during months of treatment in the United States.
Speaking in a video shared on Instagram, the former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) described the experience as one of the most difficult periods of his life, revealing that doctors initially feared the cancer had spread beyond treatment.
According to him, doctors first discovered cancer in his body but advised against immediate surgery, asking him to return after three months for further examination. “They said the cancer had spread and there was no hope. Did you know that I went to America and the doctors checked me and said, ‘There is cancer in your body, but we can’t operate now because certain things aren’t right’,” he said.
Oritsejafor said he returned to Nigeria despite being in severe pain and continued participating in activities, including his church’s jubilee celebration, while concealing his health condition from the public.
The cleric explained that subsequent tests later showed the cancer had not spread to his bones, giving doctors renewed hope that treatment could succeed. He recalled how one of the doctors, who was also a Pentecostal pastor, celebrated after confirming the cancer had not reached his bones.
He further disclosed that after being discharged from hospital, he developed a mysterious infection that doctors said they had never encountered before. According to him, medical experts initially struggled to find suitable medication, while one senior doctor warned that another surgery could be fatal.
Oritsejafor said after several failed attempts with antibiotics, doctors eventually discovered a treatment that worked after four days, describing the recovery as miraculous.
The cleric added that his medical bills rose to about $120,000 during the treatment period and that doctors later advised him to remain in the United States for some time to regain strength after losing significant weight.
