↑ 6.06.1Li, Chien-chung; Chao, Yen-hsiang (5 February 2024). "BADMINTON/'I made it through': Chou Tien-chen conquers cancer on way to title". Central News Agency. สืบค้นเมื่อ 9 February 2024. During a break at the beginning of 2023, Chou realized he had not had a full physical for two or three years, so he decided to have one done. To his surprise, he was diagnosed with early stage colorectal cancer after undergoing a colonoscopy, and soon had an operation to remove the cancerous part of his colon. "Actually, the other doctor I saw then thought the cancer was not bad and told me to have a follow-up appointment a year later. But that didn't make sense to me, so I decided to do the operation," Chou recalled. To prevent the cancer from spreading, the doctor cut more of Chou's large intestine than usual and had to use a clip that can be absorbed by human body to help the internal wound heal. "Perhaps it was because I did enough good deeds so I could witness the Lord's glory, or perhaps what I did was not enough so the Lord let me find it out earlier so as to live a bit longer and do more," said Chou, a pious Christian, of his cancer, able to joke about himself in hindsight. Chou was baptized in 2012 at Kao's suggestion after undergoing a slump, according to Christian Daily.
