Popular Nigerian singer Vast, of the duo Bracket, has opened up about his life-threatening battle with cancer.
The singer, born Nwachukwu Ozioko, was diagnosed with lymphoma—a type of blood cancer—in 2013.
In a recent interview on the AFRIMMA Podcast, posted on YouTube, Vast described that period as one he would “never forget.” 
He shared that the steadfast support of his team was vital, with everyone contributing financially to cover his treatment during his time of greatest need.
“It was a time in my life I will never forget. The people around me showed me love. Normally after making money everyone gets their cut but during this period, everyone on the team brought their money together to treat me,” he said.
“Cancer is not the problem, it’s the treatment. The process is deadly. They started with my spine and I don’t even know what they did to it. I was also asked to sign a form that if anything happens to me, I can’t hold them responsible.
“I nearly passed from the treatment. At some point, I lost so much blood that it affected my heart and I had to be admitted for blood transfusion.
“I was very skinny that you could see my ribs. It also made us spend a lot of money.”
Smash, the other member of the duo, revealed that he was stunned by Vast’s diagnosis, given his otherwise healthy lifestyle.
He recalled that doctors faced difficulties pinpointing the illness, delaying the diagnosis for more than three months after sending his blood samples to South Africa, which yielded no results.
“After a while of him not looking himself, he went to one of the biggest hospitals in Victoria Island, Lagos. They started with blood samples but couldn’t treat him because they didn’t know what was wrong,” Smash said.
“After some time, they said they had sent the blood sample to South Africa. We had a show in Burkina Faso, but because of his health, we had to send the money to Flavour to perform at the show.
“They said they sent the sample in September, but by December no result had been given. So I had to confront the doctor, telling him that if anything happened to Vast he would be held responsible. That was when he advised us to take him abroad.”
Vast further revealed that it was only after a nurse recommended an ultrasound that doctors found a “leaf” growing inside his body, which was later confirmed in the UK to be cancerous.
“They ran several tests but still couldn’t find anything. It was a nurse who suggested doing an ultrasound, and that was when they discovered a growth spreading in my body. It was later in the UK that it was confirmed to be cancerous,” he added.
Vast also shared the good news that he is now completely cancer-free.
Watch him speak below…
