How a strong romantic relationship aids cancer recovery – a loving couple share their story
- Teresa Tam was devastated when she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in 2011, at the age of 33
- Her husband stayed at her side during treatment, comforted her, and lifted her spirits. Today, she is fully recovered and happier than ever
When Teresa Tam was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in 2011, she was devastated. Then 33, she was fearful of the treatments she would have to endure to tackle the illness and worried that she might not live to celebrate her 40th birthday.
“Thankfully, I was told that the cancer was treatable,” says Tam, from Hong Kong, who had surgery, followed by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy and hormone treatment. “But I was still afraid because I didn’t know what the future had in store.”
Tam’s husband, Akio Nishida, was also scared, but tried to be strong for his wife. When she told him the bad news, he reassured her that he would not leave her side. For the next couple of years while she underwent treatment, Nishida accompanied his wife to medical appointments and chemotherapy sessions, and gave her all the space she needed to express her fear and frustration.
“I didn’t want her to feel like she was in this alone,” says Nishida, who was born in Japan but has lived in Hong Kong for nearly four decades. “The side effects of her treatment made her very emotional so I did my best to comfort her. I also read up about breast cancer and researched ways to keep her immune system strong. I just wanted her to feel supported, understood and loved.”
In addition, Nishida played the guitar, wrote poems and drew endearing illustrations to cheer her up. To keep her hopes alive on especially difficult days, he would remind her about their plans for the future. He even left his company so that he could spend every moment with her.