There is always that one person who is understanding, compassionate, and willing to be with you.

If you are actually ready to put yourself out there, you could find something that is utterly amazing.

But, do it on your own terms and time.

Peace and love!!!

You are right... if it is the right person, nothing is too much to ask or give. My thoughts and prayers , love and hugs are with you,

Best wishes on your upcoming scan.

Yes, it is a lot for someone to handle but we all come with our own luggage- family troubles, trauma, whatever it may be. The right person helps you carry those bags when you are tired and you carry theirs for them as well.

I love your positive attitude and wish you the very best!

God has a plan for you, it does include helping others, some how.
When he believe you are ready for the next adventure and partner he will put them in your path. If we listen to him and his words, we will live a better life.
I will pray for your health and that your results are good and that God guides you through this part of your life.

Big hug for you Brooke..... I hope that you will heal Godspeed

I agree that, that special person will be there for you.... I'm going to take a bit different stance on this for you

It might freak out or frighten some people and I would hate for that to hurt you.... So I would just try know that this might happen

I don't think that it would mean others are shallow but ? perhaps worried about handling it or simply afraid

I don't know if this is something that I would disclose right away..... It's personal and maybe something you could disclose after getting to know someone over a little time

Big hug.... I wish you well and I hope that you meet that special someone.... Please let us know.....xo

Wishing you the best with your health!

I personally don’t think it’s a matter of will someone be able to or want to handle it. I think
it’s really about you being willing and ready, and putting yourself out there and recognizing there are all kinds of people out there. Some may be ok with your situation and some maybe scared off. Not everyone can or wants to cope with that right out of the gate which doesn’t make them bad people. It’s just how they are built.

This is not the same thing as something like cancer but right before I met my husband, I got sick. In fact, I was not well when I met him. Something was definitely wrong because I was having stomach issues, fatigue issues, but doctors were having trouble diagnosing me. I was very up front with my husband on our second date. I said I’m going through some health stuff. I even mentioned details, like that I’m in pain a lot, I run to the bathroom all the time etc. He just said, ok. That was it. A year later it got significantly worse and I was struggling. Finally got diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a life long chronic disease with no cure. Twenty years later, with life threatening complications, a hospitalization, too many colonoscopies to count, several iron and blood transfusions and challenging medications, but also way more times in remission than with active disease, we are still together. Has he been a saint during all of it? No, because he’s human. He’s been scared and he’s been angry at times. But he’s also been loving, caring. Illness affects both people in the relationship. I think being aware of that and cutting each other slack is key.

In a lot of ways it’s less about whether someone will want to start a relationship with someone with an illness but how they handle things once in the day to day part of the relationship. That’s where we see the best and worse in our partners.

So yeah just keep expectations in check and remind yourself that if someone has an issue it’s really not personal. It’s really not. It’s about what they are able or willing to withstand. Not everyone is equipped. But that’s not about you.

Stay strong!

Thank you all for your replies! I appreciate it! I am very upfront about it. I've talked to a few very nice men. Nothing serious. Some come right out and ask about it and want to know how I am doing and what the daily is like. Other's tiptoe around it. Not because they can't handle it but because they aren't sure how I feel on the subject. Do I want to talk about it? Does it upset me to talk about it? That sort of thing. None of them have backed away because of the cancer, things just weren't right. A lot actually falls on me because when it is Chemo week I am so tired and sick that I tend to distance myself because it takes a lot out of me. And then when I am feeling better that "feeling" of connection has passed. It doesn't bother or frustrate me in any way and there are no ill feelings towards any of them. I'd just like to know that god and the universe have a plan for me. That someone is out there. I do wish that during treatment that it didn't take so much out of me that I end up being so distant. My family understands(except my dad who blows my phone up and then freaks out when I don't answer. Hello....I'm sleeping the days away dad). I truly do appreciate all of your inputs. I know that I am going to get through all of this in style. I am staying positive and focused.

Thank you!

Brooke911, I've just got to say I really admire your positive outlook and attitude toward your circumstances. I think it is really great that you're meeting new people! I agree with the others that the right person will be there for you through it all when the time comes, but not everybody is willing or able to help when their partner is sick. When you find someone that you have a good connection with and you think it might be getting serious, I'd suggest you tell them when it's chemo week and explain that you'll be trying to rest but you're not purposely ignoring them. The more communication about how you're feeling, the better!

Yeah--I know what you mean. I'm so sorry for your cancer diagnosis, but glad you caught it early. The important thing now is to be gentle on yourself and focus on healing. Relationships can be stressful and you do not want to subject yourself to any additional stress while undergoing chemo treatments to beat this dreaded disease. It seems to me the best relationships you could form right now are with others in the chemo ward going through the same chemo treatments! Then you're both sick and both trying to get healthy--there's no healthy person and sick person trying to relate to each other! Talk with other patients hooked up to the chemo machines if proximity allows.

Brooke, Sorry to hear you are going through this. Hope things have been going better for you. Completely understandable that you would want to be in a relationship. That want doesn't just go away no matter what life throws at us. Yes, as others have said, it's worth it when the right person comes along, and that God does have a plan for your life, even in the midst of chaos. Focus on yourself for the time being, but having people in your life for support and companionship does the soul a bit of good too. Keep us all updated on your progress.

Health is never guaranteed for anyone, but so many healthy people are afraid to get involved with a sick (recovering) person, because it reminds them that they too could get sick and die. I think the way to conquer this fear is to make peace with the inevitability of illness and death, and to be more focused on a love that goes beyond this world and these physical bodies--dare I say, GOD! When we have a hot heart of love for our Creator, we need not fear and we can project that love freely into each other! When you find a man with the heart of God, you'll feel that love that conquers fear, even conquers death!

A good and decent man would be supportive and patient. Best of luck in your fight. You WILL win! Ken

If its the wrong person it wouldnt matter if you told them. You should always be honest, i wish you all the best on the partner. Explore your options, people your age and mine tend to make better relationship at local places. Like a library or a pub. Or you could try a social networking site like hi5. You can pick the country and ages of people male and female on there.