Dating a cancer survivor

My motto is “go with the flow”…well, more specifically, my e-mail tagline is “When you come to a fork in the road, take it” (Yogi Berra). I ended up telling a guy over a text last night that I’m a two-time cancer survivor.In my defense, he had asked me why I was still single if I’ve lived in this area my entire life.Since my group doesn’t meet for several more weeks, I delved into the world of on-line cancer support.First I visited forums where cancer patients and their significant others discussed the challenges of dating after cancer.He asked this in a teasing way, but when I read it, my heart sank.I told him I used to be shier than I am now, that I haven’t ever worked in an environment conducive to meeting single men, and then I put it all out there, the single most pertinent reason for my absence from the dating scene: I’m a two-time cancer survivor.) • Young Survival Coalition – a wonderful organization specifically for young women with breast cancer…I posted a message on their forum requesting advice about when to tell my date about cancer, and their responses were thoughtful and detailed.

As Zmuda suggested, it is a matter of meeting the right person…cliché, I know.Once you have had cancer, it is difficult to disengage from its effects on your life, but try and pretend for a moment that you never had cancer.You are young, vivacious, and you are finally in the position to begin building a family.Almost every article or book I read mentioned practicing your cancer disclosure with a friend.I already recruited my friend Lori, and although I’m pretty sure our practice session will end up in fits of laughter, because that seems to be how all our time is spent together, I know it will be helpful.