Nollywood actress Cynthia Anijekwu has gone public with a cancer diagnosis that she says has now spread to her bones, releasing a tearful video on Tuesday appealing to Nigerians for financial help to fund treatment that costs her up to N600,000 every month.
Anijekwu, who has appeared in both English- and Igbo-language productions, said she was first diagnosed in 2023. She underwent surgery and completed chemotherapy, and her doctors indicated the treatment had initially contained the disease.
The cancer returned. In the video, which circulated widely on social media Tuesday, the actress said recent hospital examinations confirmed the disease had progressed to her bones, making her treatment more complex and far more expensive.
Cancer Treatment Now Costs N600,000 Monthly as Actress Seeks Public Support
The actress said doctors have recommended radiation therapy and a second surgery as part of her current care plan. Her family, she said, cannot carry the financial weight alone.
“I have had cancer since 2023. I did my surgery and took chemotherapy, but later it came back again. I have been in and out of the hospital. The doctor recently told me it has reached my bones, and the treatment is now much more expensive,” Anijekwu said in the video.
She appealed directly to the public, saying any amount would help.
“I need to live. I need to survive. I am asking Nigerians to please help me. Anyone that can help, please; I need help. Even my hands have swollen. The cancer has affected both breasts. I need to live. Please help me. I need to survive.”
She added, “Your one naira, your two naira can add up to something reasonable for me to get the proper treatment. I am begging you, please help me.”
Actress Says Financial Burden Has Overwhelmed Family as Medical Bills Mount
The video drew immediate attention online. Anijekwu did not name a specific hospital or treating physician in the clip, and further medical details were not immediately available. She did not disclose a bank account or donation platform in the footage that circulated, though it was unclear whether additional information was shared separately.
Bone metastasis, when cancer cells from another site spread to bone, typically signals an advanced stage of the disease. Treatment at that stage often requires a combination of systemic therapies and interventional procedures, which carry significantly higher costs than early-stage care. No independent medical source verified Anijekwu’s specific diagnosis or treatment plan.
The actress did not give a timeline for when doctors confirmed the bone involvement. She described herself as having been in and out of the hospital during the period between her initial treatment and the current relapse.
Anijekwu’s filmography spans several productions within the Nigerian movie industry, though she does not carry the profile of the country’s most prominent Nollywood names. Public attention to her career had been limited before Tuesday’s video brought her situation into wide circulation.
The cost figure she cited, N600,000 per month, reflects the broader challenge cancer patients face in Nigeria, where out-of-pocket medical spending remains high and institutional support for oncology care is limited. No government health official or hospital administrator had commented on her case as of the time of this report.
There was no statement from any film industry body or celebrity welfare group as of Tuesday afternoon. Details on how members of the public can contribute to her treatment were not disclosed in the version of the video that went viral.
Anijekwu’s public appeal joins a pattern of Nollywood practitioners turning directly to social media audiences when facing medical emergencies, given the absence of a robust industry health support structure.
The National Film Corporation and the Actors Guild of Nigeria had not issued any public statement on her case by the time this report was filed. AGN did not respond to requests for comment.
Anijekwu said she wants to live and asked anyone with the means to assist her. The video continues to circulate across WhatsApp and Instagram as of Monday evening.
