Hong Kong actress and singer Ng Man-yan (also known as Wu Wen-hsin) has publicly detailed her intensely personal, years-long battle with cancer, revealing how a spiritual return to her faith helped stabilize her mental health amid disease progression. During a recent radio interview promoting her debut single, Rebirth, the star provided a rare glimpse into her emotional state and confirmed the dissolution of her 14-year marriage.
Ng, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago and underwent surgery, faced a devastating setback last year when the disease recurred and spread to her lymph nodes and coccyx, advancing to Stage Four. Currently undergoing rigorous treatment, she shared that her emotional turmoil was significantly worsened by extreme superstition before she finally found genuine spiritual comfort.
Shifting Focus: From Superstition to Spirituality
The celebrity confessed that entering the entertainment industry led her away from the Catholicism she embraced in her youth. She described becoming consumed by fortune-telling and geomancy concerns, explaining that pervasive fears about her name being linked to “great misfortune and loneliness” even prompted her to legally change her identification documents.
When her cancer returned, Ng Man-yan said she was advised by others to participate in various rituals and extensive paper-burning ceremonies, believed to pacify “karmic debts.”
“I was burning money like crazy, but the more I burned, the more anxious I became,” she told Commercial Radio Hong Kong’s Behind the Scenes program. “My emotions hit rock bottom.”
The turning point came earlier this year when a mentor guided her back to her Catholic roots. She credits daily prayer with achieving an immediate sense of inner tranquility. “My mental state directly impacts my condition,” Ng stated, noting that since finding peace, her physical health indicators have gradually improved, validating the spiritual shift.
Setting the Record Straight on Divorce
During the candid discussion, Ng Man-yan also addressed her recent separation from her ex-husband, entrepreneur Chan Kim-ling, a revelation that stunned many fans when disclosed mid-year. While some speculation linked the divorce to her health crisis, the actress staunchly defended Chan, clarifying that their marriage ended before her cancer diagnosis.
“I need to vindicate him,” she asserted, emphasizing that the separation was finalized some time ago. She chose not to disclose the news earlier because Chan is a private individual, and she did not want to subject him to undue public scrutiny.
“Relationship problems don’t happen overnight; we had been struggling for a long time,” Ng reflected, acknowledging that both parties shared responsibility for the breakdown. She stressed that while Chan may not have been an ideal partner, “He is certainly a good father.”
Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Ng confirmed that their separation was amicable; they remain friends, having known each other since their student days in the United States. Ng added that her goal in speaking out was not to seek publicity but to provide clarity and emphasize the importance of mental and spiritual well-being during critical life challenges.
Spiritual solace and emotional acceptance are increasingly recognized by oncologists as crucial components of holistic Stage Four cancer management, providing patients with resilience that supports intensive medical interventions. Ng Man-yan’s journey offers a powerful testament to the healing power of inner peace, urging others to prioritize mental health alongside physical treatment.
