Challenges approaching new relationships
cancer, guilt
CANCER
Dating and approaching new relationships was not only a particularly challenging aspect following diagnosis and treatment, but also something that many longed for. Participants who had met their partners during or after treatment, or were currently dating, described struggling with how to communicate with their partners about problems experienced following cancer. Talking about sexuality with new partners seemed to be particularly difficult, due to fear of rejection, or feelings of guilt toward partners.I was single before my treatment and I still am today. There's a clear difference before and after treatment when it comes to sexuality…To explain this to partners, and particularly in a new relationship can feel intimidating. I feel like there is an expectation on me as a man to really seek out and almost hunt intercourse and the physical rather than the intimacy. (Man, 33 years old).