When People Let You Down (And How to Handle It)

Cancer doesn’t just mess with your health—it messes with your relationships. People disappear. Or say the wrong things. Or make it weird. Or get uncomfortable when you’re just starting to be real.

And it hurts.

People let you down for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s ignorance. Sometimes it’s their own unresolved stuff. And while understanding that can help… it doesn’t always make it less disappointing.

So what can you do?

You draw boundaries. You lower expectations where you need to. You let yourself grieve the support you wish you had. And then? You protect your energy and pour into the relationships that do feel safe, even if it’s just one person.

You deserve connection that’s real. Cancer didn’t ask your permission—but you still get to choose who has access to you.

How to protect your peace when people disappoint you:

1. Don’t internalize it. Their absence doesn’t mean you’re too much. It means they’re not equipped to be in the room with your truth.

2. Set boundaries without guilt. You can say, “I don’t have energy for this conversation right now.” Or even, “I need space from this relationship while I heal.”

3. Rebuild your inner circle. Focus on quality, not quantity. One person who gets it is worth more than ten who don’t.

#relationships #friends #boundaries