As Nadia (B) found, intimacy and a strong relationship can exist in many forms.
Transcript
My husband was a neat freak, so he was scared chemo and stuff like that. Of course, so intimacy goes and it’s just after my radiation. But he’s very kind, very supportive; when I didn’t want him he gave me a lot of space. There were days when he wanted to hold me, I’ll just say I need my space. He was very understanding, very… he would not impose himself on me and he gave me that space. I really appreciate that about him. So he understood what I was going through and stuff like that. It all comes back, I think, I was always worried about that, would it come back. But I think, it does come back, it does and you always hold hands. I think it’s not… sex is not… it doesn’t become that important as much as just being there for each other. You have each other’s company and you hold hands and stuff like that. I know that he is there for me and he’ll cuddle me and he’ll say everything is going to be okay don’t worry about it. We will and he always told me, he says we are in this together, we will be…He always told me, there’s one word he always used with me, it was “In sickness or in health we’re going to be together.” I used to feel very obliged, I felt I was imposing if I asked him to do something for me. I felt very uncomfortable but he would do it lovingly and caring and never made me feel that I was imposing on him. He’s been very, very good to me.
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- Radiation therapy – Nadia BNadia (B) felt good about going back to work during her radiation treatments.
- Chemotherapy – Nadia BIt really helped Nadia (B) to take her medication consistently; she did not experience many side-effects.
- Surgery – Nadia BAfter the procedure, the surgeon informed Nadia B's husband that her margins were clear.
- Messages to others – Nadia BNadia (B) talks about the role her diet played in giving her the strength she needed.
- Finding and sharing information – Nadia BIn the beginning, Nadia (B) was so scared that she had trouble absorbing information.
- Relating to health care professionals – Nadia BNadia (B) is feeling much better after changing her doctor. Her second doctor has good bedside manners and she has a good relationship with her.
- Positive effects on self – Nadia BFor example, while Nadia (B) continued to be devoted to her family, she also learned to create more space for herself.
- Coping strategies – Nadia BNadia (B) had an encounter with a trusted family doctor; it made her feel less vulnerable and watched over as she was waiting for her surgery.
- Sexuality, femininity and intimacy – Nadia BAs Nadia (B) found, intimacy and a strong relationship can exist in many forms.
- Surgery – Nadia BThe surgeon informed Nadia B’s husband after the surgery that she had clean margins.