Awkward Auntie Question No. 32

Everyone is different when it comes to this. Some people disclose immediately to weed out potential partners who may not be able to handle the situation. Some people put this in their bio if they are using an online dating app, while others wait until they have an invitation to meet up. Or they wait to see if they continue talking to the person online. Both approaches have risks and benefits, and if it were easy to figure out, you would have done that already! You have to be comfortable with your approach – tell immediately or wait to see what happens – and also not take rejection or ghosting too seriously (not easy!). People don’t follow through for any number of reasons. What is important is that YOU tell when you are ready – but leaving disclosure for too long (how long is too long? I’m not sure, but certainly more than two actual dates, I think) will feel like you are hiding something really important from a prospective partner, and that is not the way to have a relationship.

 

Your cancer is part of you, and there are people out there who themselves have a history of cancer or who live with other chronic illnesses. Perhaps you will be surprised. I wish you good luck as you dip your toes in this pond!