Veteran Nollywood actor, Kola Oyewo, has opened up about his battle with prostate enlargement, revealing how the condition has slowed him down and reduced the kind of roles he can take on.
Enlarged prostate, also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), is a non-cancerous condition where the prostate gland increases in size. It is commonly linked to ageing in men and can put pressure on the urethra, leading to symptoms such as frequent urination and difficulty passing urine.
The 80-year-old actor shared his experience during a recent visit by fellow actor Kunle Afod, reflecting on the physical impact of the illness.
Oyewo explained that the condition weakened him significantly, forcing him to step back from more demanding roles in the industry.
Despite the challenges, he expressed gratitude for surviving the illness, noting that seeking medical attention early played a vital role.
“Before now, I could be here and there and play any role, but the sickness laid me back. I can’t play some roles anymore. Except for some minor roles. Well, thank God I am okay now. You can’t go through some kind of sickness and go back to how you’ve been before, but I thank God,” he said.
“I’m 80 years old, and we have so many people of my age that are still standing better than I am, but I thank God still. If I hadn’t taken decision to drive myself to the hospital as I did, then I might have died. They gave me a note to take to a hospital in Akure, but I thought to myself, who would take care/assist me there, so I went home first.
“I told my wife, and we went to our family doctor. The symptoms I felt that made me go to the hospital were difficulty sleeping at night, frequent urine and sometimes urination on the body before I get to the toilet. After a series of tests, I was told I have an enlarged prostate.”
Oyewo began his acting career in 1964 after joining the Oyin Adejobi theatre group, where he played his first role as Adejare in ‘Orogun Adedigba’.
With over four decades of experience, he is regarded as a seasoned figure in the industry. He also served as a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, from 1996 until his retirement in 2011.