Love and marriage for cancer survivors
Cancer can change relationships, including dating and sex. This applies whether you are single or have a partner or spouse. Sexual health, the ability to have children, etc. are important considerations before and during treatment.
A cancer diagnosis can affect all aspects of a patient’s life, including relationships with spouses and partners.
In most cases, couples become closer during their Cancer journey and come to accept their former relationship through the experience. This is important because studies have shown that intimate relationships can dramatically improve patient outcomes. For example, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that married patients were diagnosed with cancer earlier when treatment was more successful. Get better treatment. Outlive unmarried patients.
But not all relationships are strong enough to survive a cancer diagnosis, and even the details of how cancer progresses can affect it. A study published in the journal Cancer found that a woman with cancer or another serious illness is six times more likely than her male patient to be separated or divorced soon after being diagnosed. “Female gender was found to be the strongest predictor of separation or divorce in each cohort,” the study authors noted. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior reached similar conclusions regarding its impact on female patients.
Cancer Treatment and Sexual Side Effects
Cancer and its treatments can cause sexual side effects. These are physical or mental. Find out more about potential side effects for men and women and how your health care team can help.
Certain types of cancer and their treatment may affect your ability to have children in the future
This ability is called fertility, and it’s important to discuss it with your doctor. Learn about fertility and cancer treatment.
If you have a partner
You may not have a partner yet. Alternatively, you may have a serious boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, or spouse. If you have a partner, your cancer can have a tremendous impact on your partner’s life. Young couples are less likely to get life-threatening illnesses, which can be very stressful.
Most couples experience changes in their relationship when one partner has cancer. This includes changing roles and responsibilities, sexual health, intimacy, parenting, and plans.
It is important to avoid unprotected sex and pregnancy during cancer treatment. Your partner can get sick from chemotherapy and other drugs in your body, and cancer treatments can seriously harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about preventing pregnancy and ensuring your partner’s safety during treatment.
Coping with cancer together can strengthen your relationship. Anxiety strengthens your love and commitment. You may decide that your partnership is even more important than you thought.Or, dealing with cancer and the changes it can cause can weaken the relationship.
It is important that you and your partner discuss your concerns and challenges with each other. Your health care team and a counselor can also help you manage your concerns and address them.
Resentment and Anger Triggers
When faced with a major problem, such as diagnosing and treating a loved one’s cancer, the first reaction is to take control and work things out. You may have good intentions, but reading every book and studying every fact can lead to unrealizable expectations that put undue stress on you and your partner.
Each Cancer journey has its own timeline. No matter how well you prepare and coordinate every task along the way, there will be difficulties. These are days of good news and gratitude, and misfortune can make recovery take longer than expected. Despite your plans, facing the reality of living with cancer can frustrating and exhausting.
Negative emotions can be triggered by certain events or situations. Recognizing these triggers is the key to resolving them.
Common triggers for anger and resentment include:
Feeling the weight of the victim
Taking on more responsibility than you can handle
Dealing with the loss of sex or intimacy
Physically, mentally, and financially overwhelmed,
In many cancer clinics, Is a support service to help couples navigate the emotional complexities of cancer treatment. If you and your partner are struggling, contact a clinic or hospital social worker for resources.
Marriage Counseling: Do You Need It? Emotions are normal, but these feelings are also manageable. Here are some ways to help you deal with the difficult emotions that may arise while your partner has cancer:
Keep an eye out for prices
Cancer is your partner’s identity may have become a part of, but it doesn’t define him. Pay attention to what you like about the other person, such as their laughter, smile, or little quirks that other people don’t understand.
Keep these traits fresh, such as B. Plan an impromptu date night, even if it’s just watching a movie together on the couch.
Plan for the Future
Remember, there is a future after cancer. Make a plan with your partner. If they resist, accept that they can come back later. For the second or third time, you may be surprised at your partner’s willingness to move forward.
Communicate Emotions
Suppressing emotions will only lead to more resentment and anger. On the one hand, you can express positive and negative emotions to move forward or find solutions. Emotions can be addressed and improved even when the situation is impossible.
Seeking Support Being a partner with her
Cancer patients can be stressful and exhausting. It’s important to find support for yourself as soon as possible. Whether in person or online, support groups are a great way to share your feelings without guilt. A pastor, counselor, or trusted friend are also good contacts.
The more support we have, the more prepared we are to support our loved ones.
Summary
A cancer diagnosis affects your relationships. When responsibilities and obligations are shifted from the cancer patient, the other person becomes overwhelmed and stressed. It’s normal to feel anger and resentment and question the end of a relationship. Knowing what causes these feelings is essential to identifying potential solutions.
Sharing your feelings, accepting help from others, and taking care of yourself can help ease negative emotions while your partner undergoes treatment and recovery.
Reference-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6159935/