James and his wife Helen, talk in their Mother Tongue Cantonese to share some of the cultural stigmas and issues they faced when James was diagnosed with lung cancer.
This video is part of Macmillan’s mother tongue project. (4 minutes and 38 seconds). We hope to feature different lived experiences here on the Online Community to represent different ethnic cultures and communities, so nobody feels they are facing cancer alone.
Please see an English transcript written below. There are also English subtitles available when watching the video. For additional support information in other languages, scroll to the end of this blog page.
James: Before I was diagnosed with lung cancer, I had no idea that cancers can actually be treatable. From my own experience, I learned that cancer can be treated.
My name is James. This is my wife Helen. In 2018 I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I came to England from Hong Kong for my career over 50 years ago. I met my wife in 1972 and got married. We have a daughter. She is 45 years old now. We have a grandchild, who’s 3 and a half years old now.
I cough whenever I wake up. The cough was short and only lasted a few minutes. I didn’t pay much attention to it. I didn’t go to the doctor, not until 2018 when I ran in the London Marathon. I was exhausted.
After finishing, I began coughing continuously for a week. There was no sign of stopping.
Helen: Diagnosis took a few months, quite a long period. By the time you were officially diagnosed, I was not that shocked.
James: I was very calm, very peaceful. There was still a strange feeling deep inside my heart. I became a stage 4 lung cancer patient from an ordinary man overnight.
Running is my only and most important hobby. Since 1987, I have been running in competitions and marathons almost every year.
In the past, before I was diagnosed, I always ran here. I was running a lot. After I was diagnosed, I ran less. I usually walk with you here, don’t we?
Helen: Yeah, we usually walk for about an hour. We have a circuit, from here to the water over there, all the way up there and back.
James: Now I run three times a week. Running slowly, sometimes walking.
Helen: You are getting more adapted to the new medication. It will become better. Maybe you can run a bit more.
We still have hope.
James: Of course. My philosophy prepared me to accept the diagnosis because I think all of these happen to be natural. When the side effects of medication kick in, or I feel sick, I accept them all. Therefore, I am not afraid. I am not scared or worried. Go with the flow and accept everything.
I hope there are Cantonese speakers who can watch this. In case they find any signs of cancer, and if they seek doctors’ advice, get diagnosed early, and receive better treatment, it would be something nice.
If you’d like to be a guest blogger for the Online Community and share your personal experiences in Macmillan’s Community news blog, please email Community@macmillan.org.uk.
