I Left My Terminally Ill Husband, but Don’t Be Quick to Judge Me

Our editorial team received an anonymous letter from a woman who made the difficult decision to end her marriage while her husband battled cancer. She wishes to share her challenging journey in order to provide guidance to others going through similar situations, with the hope of helping them avoid similar pitfalls.

The blissful union of 10 years was shattered by the devastating news of her husband’s diagnosis.

“My husband and I were married for 10 years, enjoying a wonderful marriage and fulfilling life together. We visited over 40 countries, engaged in extreme sports, and built successful careers. Everything changed when my husband was diagnosed with cancer. I was in such shock that it felt like my world had literally collapsed.”

“It took me several months to reconcile with the diagnosis and adapt to our altered reality. Yet, eventually, I summoned the strength to gather myself and firmly decided that we would confront this challenge united.”

The woman assumed responsibility for all tasks, managing the household and overseeing her husband’s treatment.

“I quit my job and took on the full responsibility of managing our household and my husband’s treatment. I coordinated his doctor visits and diligently searched for new doctors and alternative treatment options. I handled everything from scheduling appointments and managing medications to keeping track of medical records and exploring cutting-edge therapies. My days were consumed with ensuring he received the best possible care while also maintaining some semblance of normalcy at home.”

Her husband immersed himself in self-pity.

“My life became a living hell with a relentless cycle of constant doctor visits and grim prognoses. I tried to stay positive, doing my best to keep our spirits up, while my husband wallowed into self-pity. The last straw was when he refused to undergo chemotherapy, claiming it was too painful and wouldn’t guarantee him a cure. It seemed as though he had stopped seeing me altogether. All he could focus on was his own pain and suffering. He didn’t notice the efforts I was making or acknowledge the fact that I, too, was struggling and hurting. I sacrificed everything to support him through this journey, so his decision felt like a betrayal.”

“Despite my earnest pleas and appeals, urging him to see it as his best chance for survival, he staunchly persisted in pursuing alternative treatments with minimal scientific validation. With each decline in his health, our relationship followed suit. I harbored growing resentment as I witnessed his passive acceptance of illness without resistance. The sense of betrayal and abandonment weighed heavily on me, leaving me to bear the burden of his sickness alone.”

She made the decision to part ways with her husband.

“Despite my frustration and anger, I couldn’t muster the strength to leave him. I had pledged to stand by him through thick and thin, and I was determined to uphold that commitment. However, as time passed and the challenges mounted, I began to doubt everything.”

“Then, on a pivotal night, as I sat vigil by his bedside, observing his restless sleep, I reached a breaking point. The exhaustion of caregiving, the overwhelming burden of his illness — it all became unbearable. At that moment, I realized that I needed to prioritize my own mental and emotional well-being. That night, I made the toughest decision of my life.”

Her decision inflicted a profound wound upon her soul.

“This decision left a profound scar on my soul. It triggered a negative reaction from our mutual friends and relatives. Many simply failed to understand me and believed I had betrayed my husband.
It took several years of therapy for me to realize that I am not a bad person, that I prioritized myself in this situation. My husband made his decision, and I made mine.”

“I hope that my story will help those who find themselves in a similar situation. It’s crucial to seek help from a psychologist, both for the patients themselves and for their family members. Maybe our story would have ended differently if we had just visited a couple’s therapist.”

BONUS: Psychological tips for caregivers of cancer patients.

• Take care of yourself. While caring for a loved one with cancer, it’s common to feel that your needs are secondary. You might be accustomed to focusing solely on their care, making it challenging to shift your attention to yourself. However, nurturing your own needs, aspirations, and dreams is vital for sustaining your resilience. Seeking support and tending to your well-being isn’t selfish — it’s an essential step toward maintaining your strength to continue caregiving.
• Ask for help. Many caregivers acknowledge in hindsight that they burdened themselves excessively or wished they had reached out to friends or family earlier. Take a sincere inventory of what you’re capable of handling and what you aren’t. Determine which tasks you prefer or need to manage independently, and identify those you can delegate or share with others.

• Understand your feelings. Giving yourself an outlet for your own thoughts and feelings is important. Think about what would help lift your spirits. Would talking with others help ease your load? Or would you rather have quiet time by yourself? Maybe you need both, depending on what’s going on in your life. It’s helpful for you and others to know what you need.
• Write in a journal. Research shows that writing or journaling can help relieve negative thoughts and feelings. And it may actually help improve your own health. You might write about your most stressful experiences. Or you may want to express your deepest thoughts and feelings. You can also write about things that make you feel good, such as a pretty day or a kind coworker or friend.

Consider joining a support group. These groups convene in person, over the phone, or online, providing a platform to gain fresh perspectives on your situation, gather coping strategies, and find solace in the knowledge that you’re not alone. You can find support groups at hospitals, cancer centers, community organizations, and educational institutions.

Here are some ways to locate groups near you:

• Contact your local hospital to inquire about their cancer support initiatives.
• Consult with your social worker for recommendations on groups.
• Speak with other patients who have participated in support groups for referrals.
• Do an online search for groups. Or go to the NCI database Organizations that Offer Cancer Support Services for suggestions.

Another reader shared her heart-wrenching story with our editorial team, recounting the painful decision she made to prevent her terminally ill sister from walking down the aisle on her wedding day.