Welcome to Young Adult's Journal

Dating is tough even under ideal circumstances, but dating someone who%u2019s undergone cancer treatment can present some special challenges.

Surviving cancer, while a triumph, is a life-altering experience. Your significant other%u2019s body may not be the same as it had been, with chemotherapy possibly causing hair loss, radiation treatments leading to skin discoloration, drug regimes resulting in weight loss or even weight gain and surgical scars. Your reaction to the physical changes will likely mean the difference between the relationship continuing or ending. More challenging, though, may be changes that aren%u2019t outwardly visible. Survivors may experience a loss of self-esteem. They can fear the future and often feel emotions such as anger, fear, sadness and frustration.

Be patient. Join a support group for spouses and partners of cancer survivors. Talk openly about intimacy and feelings of closeness. The support your significant other receives from friends and family is important, but it often can%u2019t compare to the strength derived from a close, personal relationship with you.