Cancer has been weaponised

Hi All

I am posting this as I genuinely don't know where else to turn.

I had cancer 5 years ago, and was successfully treated for it.  I thought my husband was supportive and caring at the time, but turns out he was just waiting to use it against me.

Our marriage has never been perfect (nearly 20 years), and we've argued a lot, nearly splitting a couple of times in the past. Not sure if I can get past this latest though.  We've been having issues again lately, with a lot of controlling and bullying behaviour toward me.  Met with a relationship counsellor and one of the things he said rocked me to the core.  He told her he nearly left me five years ago but didn't because of my diagnosis.

This just not true.  We had been arguing at the time, and I nearly threw him out but didn't because I got ill and it took over my life, my career almost went down the pan and I was told that if I didn't get treatment I'd be dead in a year.

So he has now made himself out to be such a great person, and the counsellor thinks he sacrificed his happiness to look after his cancer wife.  He has effectively weaponised my cancer to make himself out to be such a great person, when he's actually gaslighted both me and the counsellor.   I can't stop crying because it's brought everything related to the cancer back up yo the surface again, and I feel like a fool for not ending it 5 years ago.

Am I being the ***?

Tez

  • Hi Tez

    Keep with the marriage councelling sessions. It sounds like you are perfectly suited for each other. 

    Has your cancer treatment been successful?

    Best wishes Ed

  • After 20 years I would stick at it you obviously know each others faults inside and out ,I wouldn't end a marriage on this but I would have a long chat and find out his true feeling for you ,if they are none existent then I would call it a day but its tough out there on your own not many marriages last 20 years so I think you should work around what happened 5 years ago .

  • Hi Ed

    I was very lucky that my cancer was caught at an early stage, less lucky that it was an aggressive type.  But yes, I had surgery followed by radiotherapy and am now considered NED.

    Forgive me if I've read your comment wrong, but you seem to imply that I deserve for my experience to be used against me?  Husband has admitted to me (not the counsellor tho) that he weaponised my cancer against me.  Just seeking to clarify what your meaning was?

    Terrie

  • Hi Terrie

    So glad to here that your treatment has gone well and now NED.

    How you could read anyrhing into two sentences of encouragement to save your marriage I dont know.

    Best wishes for the future

    Ed

  • Hello Tez 

    I am sorry you are going through this

    I would speak to womens aid or similar make sure you use a phone hubby not monitoring and have your say to someone who understands control and coercive behaviour.

    Or speak to the counsellor alone or a different one about your cancer experience and your relationship.  You will get a clearer sense on what is right for you.  

    You can do this sending strength