“Hangover” actor Ken Jeong, 54, supported his wife, who was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer shortly after giving birth to their twins. She first discovered a lump while breastfeeding.
Ken’s wife underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy (removal of the breast), followed by radiation therapy for treatment. She was later declared “cancer-free” after undergoing treatment.
“Triple-negative” means the cancer is not fueled by any of the three main types of receptors: estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. Because of this, the cancer won’t respond to certain common therapies.
In addition to surgery and radiation, chemotherapy is a mainstay of treatment for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer. Different chemotherapy combinations may be used to treat this aggressive form of cancer that’s known to respond well to chemotherapy.
Sometimes, a cancer diagnosis can strengthen a relationship. Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin recommends cancer patients surround themselves with people who care for and support them throughout treatment while also acknowledging their limits on what they can handle.
Hollywood star Ken Jeong, 54, renowned for his roles in “The Hangover” franchise, shares a profound love for his wife Tran. Not only is she the devoted mother of their twins, but she is also a courageous breast cancer survivor.
“You complete me…you know the rest,” Jeong wrote in an Instagram post.
Ken Jeong, a celebrated actor, holds a medical degree from the University of Chapel Hill North Carolina. As reported by WBTV News, he practiced medicine in Louisiana until 2006, when he embarked on a new path, venturing into the world of acting.
Yet, their love story began in the halls of a hospital. As physicians in Los Angeles, they crossed paths. Ken, who specializes in internal medicine, and Tran, who specializes in family medicine, shared a common passion for healing and caring for others.
“I remember we would pass by each other in the hospital occasionally when we were rounding. She was very pretty,” Ken said during the Death, sex and Money podcast.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: (L-R) Ken Jeong and Tran Jeong attend the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LIVE on September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
The two started dating and eventually married. Although Ken was a doctor, he loved acting, and with Tran’s encouragement, he pursued it as a full-time career.
In 2007, the couple had twins, Alexa and Zooey. However, shortly after giving birth while breastfeeding, Tran noticed a lump while breastfeeding.
Tran and Ken leaned on their medical training to work through the problem, initially thinking it was an issue related to breastfeeding.
“It’s so common to get a plugged duct or mastitis (infection). Those are very common,” Ken told Slate.
“As physicians, we see those all the time and reassure the patient, ‘These are just plugged-up ducts; that happens, and you’ll be fine,’” he said.
“This one didn’t go away. It just got bigger. I remember the whole time, neither of us was thinking of cancer … We were just like, ‘Oh man, it’s probably infected, ugh.’ We actually tried some antibiotics, but nothing worked. It was just getting bigger and more red. That, to me, I thought was an infection.”
Ken wrote in a 2011 op-ed in the Huffington Post, “Tran was diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of breast cancer” – stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer.”
“We were both in shock, and I was angry. How could this be happening to her?” Ken said.
Tran’s cancer treatment involved 16 chemotherapy sessions and a mastectomy, and it was followed by radiation.
“I stood by her side in complete amazement as she drew from a strength I didn’t know she possessed until she became a mother. She fought back against cancer with everything she had for our girls so that they would grow up knowing a mother’s love, a mother’s instinct, a mother’s touch,” Ken said.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 04: (L-R) Ken Jeong and Tran Ho pose with the “Comedy Trailblazer Award” during the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino, and AAPI Achievements at Fairmont Century Plaza on December 04, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
Although Tran fought mightily through cancer, Ken admitted he was “scared out of [his] mind.”
After undergoing treatment, Trans was declared “cancer-free,” meaning she had no evidence of disease.
“When Tran was told she was cancer-free, it was the greatest moment of my life. In a way, it surpassed our wedding and the birth of our girls because it meant that we would be able to celebrate both of those moments for the rest of our lives,” Ken said.
A life-altering diagnosis can impact the patient and their loved ones emotionally and physically.
Research published in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine studied the impact of a cancer diagnosis or disease on family members. It found, “Most chronic diseases have similar effects on family members including psychological and emotional functioning, disruption of leisure activities, effect on interpersonal relationships, and financial resources.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 15: (L-R) Ken Jeong and Tran Jeong attend the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Feelings of “helplessness, lack of control, guilt, anger, embarrassment” are some common emotions parents, siblings, and other relatives within the household of someone battling a health condition may experience, according to researchers.
MacMillan Cancer Support, a charity that advocates for cancer patients, says communication is a vital tool in helping support a partner with cancer, and it could help a couple understand each other better.
“It can help to ask your partner what support they would like and find useful. This makes sure you help where it is most wanted and needed. It can also help you avoid misunderstandings,” the charity said.
Communicating your feelings is something licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin also believes is vital to helping couples dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
She adds that people faced with cancer should “surround [themselves] with individuals who care and support [them]” throughout treatment while also acknowledging their limits on what they can handle.
“Going through [cancer] treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience,” Dr. Strongin wrote in a column for SurvivorNet. “Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much [is] extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”
Understanding Tran’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Triple-negative breast cancer means your cancer is not fueled by any of the three main types of receptors — estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. Because of this, the cancer won’t respond to certain targeted therapies, including hormone therapy or HER2-targeted agents like Herceptin. Chemotherapy is typically the treatment, and several options exist, such as immunotherapy or participating in clinical trials.
WATCH: Understanding triple-negative breast cancer
If the triple-negative breast cancer patient does not have many symptoms, oral chemotherapy like Xeloda (generic name capecitabine) may be prescribed. If the patient becomes resistant to the oral chemo drug, IV (intravenous) chemotherapy may be offered weekly or bi-weekly.
Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is completely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis.
“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, and family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said.
If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches.
Women needing a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis should consider the following.
Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
Keep a journal. It can be highly cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a lovely journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
Join a cancer support group. Groups are available in nearly every community and offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about how to keep your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation:
What treatment will I be receiving?
What side effects are associated with this treatment?
Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
