Hi. I've been with my partner for 14 years now and we've lived together for most of that time. He has been diagnosed with early bladder cancer, (now operated on and being treated with immunotherapy) and low grade prostate cancer which is due for removal in the new year hopefully.
He has always been a silent type, never talks about feeling etc, or our relationship, which I've got used to over the years even though i'm normally more talkative. It makes it hard though as I get nervous about starting a conversation like that with him when he normally just shuts it down. At first we talked about all the technical side of his cancer treatment, but now as the prostate op gets closer he is starting to shut down and pull away from me and has now said he wants me to move out when he has the op. We share a small flat so there's not much room it's true and I totally understand he wants space to sort things in his head and to recover without worrying about anyone else being around, even though leaving him is the last thing I want to do.
I have been trying to keep a level head about everything, to support him as best I can, though he won't let me go with him to any appointments. Moving out is hard as I have nowhere to go locally, and largely work from home so would have to take everything with me either back to my mothers house across country or, I don't know, maybe find a b&b or something. All the while i'm desperately worried about him of course and won't be able to be there to give support. I have no idea whether he will even want me to move back again.
I know some men deal with cancer like this, he is withdrawing into himself for the fight, but I wish I knew what to do other than just try to keep a level head on and deal with it as best I can, giving him the space he wants, while letting him know i'm there for him, even while I have to move out. I do love him so much after being together for so long. Anyone else faced this kind of thing? Any advice?
