Nigerian singer Nwachukwu Ozioko, popularly known as Vast of the music duo Bracket, has revealed how close he came to losing his life while battling lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in 2013.

Speaking on the AFRIMMA Podcast, Vast described the experience as a turning point in his life, admitting that the support of his team was crucial for his survival.

“It was a time in my life I will never forget,” he said. “Normally, after making money, everyone gets their cut, but during this period, everyone on the team brought their money together to treat me.”

Vast stressed that while cancer itself is frightening, the treatment process was even more dangerous, recalling how he almost died during therapy.

“Cancer is not the problem—it’s the treatment. The process is deadly. They started with my spine, and I was asked to sign a form that if anything happened, I couldn’t hold them responsible. At some point, I lost so much blood that it affected my heart, and I had to undergo blood transfusion. I was so skinny you could see my ribs,” he explained.

The singer revealed that the diagnosis came only after months of uncertainty. Doctors initially struggled to detect the illness until a nurse suggested an ultrasound, which revealed a growth in his body. Further tests in the UK later confirmed it was cancer.

His bandmate, Smash, also shared how shocking the news was, given Vast’s healthy lifestyle. He recalled how hospitals in Lagos failed to detect the illness, delaying treatment for months.

“Doctors kept running tests but couldn’t find anything. They even sent his blood sample to South Africa, but after three months, no result came. I had to confront the doctor, telling him if anything happened to Vast, he would be held responsible. That was when they advised us to take him abroad,” Smash recounted.

Despite the painful journey, Vast pulled through with resilience, the sacrifice of his team, and timely medical intervention. Today, his story stands as a message of hope and awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment.