Tessa James admits she wanted to die during cancer treatment
The actress opens up about surviving the toughest battle of her life
- by
New Idea Writer
It’s been a rough couple of years for Aussie glamour couple Tessa James and Nate Myles to say the least.
When former Home And Away star Tessa was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014, her whole world was rocked to the core – so much so that at one point she admits she was so low she suffered a panic attack and wanted to die.
‘I hit a point where I didn’t know what I was doing, why I was here, what was happening, where my life was going,’ she opened up to the Sydney Morning Herald. ‘I thought I knew. I was 23 and all this bad stuff was happening.’
Tessa bravely kept her spirits up when she shaved her head during chemotherapy treatment in 2014
Tessa James Instagram
Throwing herself into six months of intensive chemotherapy treatment, Tessa was left barely able to walk after her sessions, something her doting husband Nate says was ‘frightening’.
But with her husband of three years by her side – as well as her doting, tight-knit family – Tessa, now 25, dug deep and kept fighting.
‘I got through it because I had to get through it,’ she explains. ‘What was the other option? To sit and feel sorry for myself? I think I had to hit that low point, to be in so much pain and so upset and so traumatised, to then have that sense of empowerment again: I can get through this.’
The actress credits her husband, Nate Myles, and her family for helping her through the toughest time of her life
Tessa James Instagram
The family celebrated 'Wonder Woman' Tessa on her last day of chemo
Tessa James Instagram
And get through it she has. The actress’s recovery has been nothing short of inspirational, and, more than 12 months since her last treatment, she’s going from strength to strength.
That strength is just one of the things Nate fell in love with when he first met the petite star he now proudly calls his wife in 2009.
Opening up to Daily Life, the Manly Sea Eagles NRL star player admits it was also Tessa’ ‘piercing’ blue eyes that reeled him in.
‘She had long blonde hair and her eyes stood out like t*** on a bull. They just stood out,’ he laughs. ‘I thought I didn’t have a chance.’
NRL player Nate, who met Tessa in 2009 before the couple married in 2011, says he was initially drawn to her 'piercing' blue eyes and long blonde hair
Tessa James Instagram
The actress has been rocking her new short hair since finishing treatment, mixing it up from blonde to brunette