At the moment Tarek’s sister knew his wife has breast cancer, they insisted on re-marrying him, as if having this disease is going to make his wife less than a woman.
Tarek said that, his wife was diagnosed 15 years ago, and his biggest concerns were his wife survival chances. They didn’t tell any relatives, and his wife had a surgery and removed one of her breasts, and start Chemo therapy. During the therapy Tarek’s family found out about his wife illness, but instead of encouraging him to take care of her, they insisted on him to re-marry. These opinions didn’t affect Tarek and made him love his wife even more, and their relation became more intimate, as he started to see her even more attractive.
n the same context, Dr. Naji al-Saghir said that, the husband support during the discovery of the cancer and the treatment process is very important, showing his resentment for not having enough guidance programs that teach cancer’s survivors and their partners how to deal with the new situation, which often results in problems in the marriage relation. Most of the medical institutions provide guidance to women and their families from surgeries to Chemo and radiation therapy before starting the treatment, but after the process is done, they only have revisions with no space for social and psychological consulting. In the past, breast cancer survival chances were few, but today and thanks to early detection of breast cancer campaigns, many women are coping or fully recovered.
A survivor named Aya said that, she was diagnosed early in her life, but her family supported her and her husband gave her strength and didn’t left her side during the treatment, adding that, he never refused or resent the change in her body, as she had breast implant surgery. She said that, he never showed her any pity, which was important to her, because all she needed was a companion, and she doesn’t care how she looks anymore as long as she healthy and happy with her husband.
Dr. Naji al-Saghir stressed that, all husbands play a vital role during this disease, and they shouldn’t make their wives feel like they have lost a feminine side of them. He expressed his happiness on seeing men come with their wives to his clinic, as this attitude forms a big psychological support to women, especially if it came spontaneously and without any pressures.