Cancer spouses distressed more than previously thought

Think cancer has only one sufferer? Not quite, and those who have been hit by the disease can easily attest to this. Spouses, family members and anyone else close to a cancer patient shares in the torment.

A new study concluded that the stress toll on both a cancer patient and his or her spouse reaches deeper than previously thought. The result: the spouse of a cancer patient suffers as well, and it goes well beyond the level of assistance that partner usually receives.

As with a healthy marriage, spouses should work "as a team" to battle cancer, regardless of which one has it. Sounds like god advice, as isn't teamwork a main tenet of marriage in the first place?