Dating After Cancer

As if dating as a young adult wasn’t complicated enough, cancer survivors must navigate additional circumstances surrounding their past and current health. Unfortunately, this can make several aspects of the dating process tricky, like disclosing your past diagnosis to potential partners, determining the qualities you look for in a partner, and overcoming anxieties involved with dating as a survivor. As a young person who has experienced cancer, what is the best way to navigate the dating world?

Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. In this episode, guest speakers talk about their experiences dating after experiencing cancer. They share their perspectives and personal stories about dating as cancer survivors and discuss topics like seeking romantic partners and entering new relationships. Finally, they provide their dating advice to young adults who have had cancer to help them approach this important area of life.

Introducing Our Speakers (0:31)

Today on Life on Pause, we are joined by cancer survivors Corene, Bradley, Valarie, Diana, and Elizabeth. To begin the episode, each speaker introduces themselves and shares a bit about their lives and where they are in their cancer journey.

Disclosing Your Diagnosis (2:22)

Dating new people means opening up your life to them, which includes your past. For cancer survivors, it can be challenging to determine the best way to inform new or potential partners about your previous experience with a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatments. Our guests share their own stories and advice about disclosing this sensitive subject.

Selectiveness in Partners (4:44)

As Elizabeth speaks about her experiences with sharing her cancer diagnosis with potential partners, she introduces the idea of selectiveness in dating. She and the other speakers talk about how they determine whether a partner is worthy of pursuing a relationship for the long haul, considering the circumstances surrounding their health.

Concerns with Post-Cancer Dating (11:20)

Our speakers discuss their personal concerns with dating post-cancer, like poor self-confidence due to hair loss from cancer, the stress of creating dating profiles, pressure on specific age groups to find partners, and the fear of dating with cancer if they experience a relapse. 

Does Cancer Change the Qualities You Look for in Partners? (17:55)

Experiencing cancer can change your perspectives on relationships and life in general. As a result, some cancer survivors have found that they seek out new qualities in their potential partners than they did before. Our guests discuss this idea and share their experiences in finding partners post-cancer and the qualities they look for in a partner.

Dating Advice for Young Cancer Survivors (25:31)

Speakers bring their perspectives to the table to share with listeners their own advice for dating as cancer survivors. They also discuss the things they try to remind themselves of when they experience difficult days to brighten their spirits.