Skip to content

Partner pulling away, cold and mean?

Page last modified on: October 7, 2008
Question from Cathy: After 26 years with my boyfriend and second go-round with breast cancer (now metastatic), he is treating me rotten. Takes me for my treatment but at home is cold and mean to me. Have no family support and must rely on him even to bury me. What to do?
Answer —Lidia Schapira, M.D.: I'm sorry to hear that you are so alone in this situation, and that the one person you depend on both for practical matters such as transportation, and for emotional support, is pulling away from you now. If you think he is treating you rotten, perhaps you could confide in somebody, and just talk about all of the things that are going on at home. I worry that you may not be getting the support you need, and also worry that in some way he is making you suffer. I don't know from your question just how bad things are, but I do hear that you need more help than you are getting. Perhaps start talking with your nurse or social worker when you go for treatment next time, and let them know that you need more support and let them help you find other means of transportation, as well as support during this difficult time.

On Wednesday, March 15, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Coping with Your Changing Feelings and Relationships. Lidia Schapira, M.D. and moderator Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. answered your questions about facing your fears head-on, handling moodiness and depression, diffusing tension with your partner and feeling close without sexual activity, as well as issues of self-image and femininity.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

A production of LiveWorld, Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

wellness_dvd_promo

Email Updates

Stay informed about current research, online events, and more.

Please leave this field empty

Meet the Experts

Lidia Schapira, M.DLidia Schapira, M.D. is a medical oncologist at the Gillette Center for Breast Oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Jennifer Armstrong, M.D.Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. is a breast cancer oncologist at Paoli Hematology-Oncology Associates in Paoli, Pa., with a special interest in physicians' communication skills.

Back to top

Breastcancer.org 7 East Lancaster Avenue, 3rd Floor Ardmore, PA 19003

Learn more about our commitment to your privacy

© 2009 Breastcancer.org - All rights reserved.

Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.