Nigerian entertainer Charly Boy, also known as the “Area Fada,” has revealed his struggle with Stage 1 prostate cancer and his subsequent recovery.
The music icon shared his experience to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and men’s health issues.
In a candid statement, Charly Boy detailed how he discovered the disease: “I was lucky because my pee and everything were mixing with my bladder, and it had become cancerous. There was a need to stop it in its tracks, so the next day after the examination, I was admitted.”
The singer underwent surgery in May of last year at Reddington Hospital, where he spent five days recovering.
While the procedure was successful, Charly Boy admitted he is still on a journey toward full recovery.
Charly Boy described how the illness affected him emotionally and physically, particularly his sexual health.
“Throughout my challenge, I noticed I had become so uninterested in sex. My ‘thing’ still wasn’t rising when it was supposed to, and I didn’t have full command of my organ,” he shared, adding that these issues made him feel less of a man.
He emphasized the stigma and silence surrounding men’s health issues, saying, “A lot of men I know don’t want to talk about it. They carry it as their cross, but the sooner you check up and know what’s happening in your body, the better.”
Following his recovery, Charly Boy was inspired to help other men facing similar challenges. With encouragement from businessman Louis Stan Ekeh, he launched the Charly Boy Foundation, focusing on prostate cancer awareness and support.
The foundation works with hospitals in cities like Umuahia, Owerri, Enugu, and Abuja to provide affordable prostate cancer testing and treatment.
“Depending on your location, tests typically cost about ₦50,000 to ₦100,000, but the foundation offsets half or even three-quarters of the fee,” Charly Boy explained.
For more severe cases, the foundation helps fund surgeries for selected patients. However, Charly Boy admitted the initiative needs more donations to sustain its efforts.
“I’m still scratching my head because I don’t see a lot of NGOs catering for men. It’s all about women and children. But men are human beings too.”
He also called on families and communities to support initiatives aimed at tackling men’s health challenges.
“For any family that has gone through what I have, they will understand,” he said. “All we ask for is their widow’s mite—whatever they can afford—to help others in need.”