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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be angry at ex hiding cancer diagnosis?

233 replies

PlainJaneBrain · 07/09/2025 16:06

After 25+ years together we’ve been separated for 2 and half years now but remained very close and dependent on each other not least as co-parents, but aside from living in different house and flat from each other, we probably usually spend more time in each others’ company than we did when we were together.

We saw less of each other over summer than we normally do and I thought that was just down to our holidays and the kids not aligning particularly well. But I found out on Friday that he was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer at the end of July and has had several rounds of radiotherapy. He didn’t tell anyone except someone he works with so he could take time off (he’s actually self employed and told this other person so they could cover his work when needed). But he didn’t tell me, his own Mum, siblings or anyone else. I found out almost by accident (snooping in his post while at his flat). I ended up confronting him and he was just so bloody casual about it it’s really upset me and made me angry.

I wouldn’t mind but when we were together he was the world’s worst hypochondriac and now he’s like “it’s no one’s business and who cares anyway”. He’s lost quite a bit of weight and obviously lied to me about that saying he was dieting.

I know he doesn’t believe it but he still means the world to me and I’m gutted he doesn’t want me to go through this with him.

AIBU to think 1. He should have told me, and 2. He should keep me updated? We have two early teen kids.

OP posts:
Hesma · 07/09/2025 17:08

I can see why you’re his ex!!!

Remingtonsteele · 07/09/2025 17:08

Brainstorm23 · 07/09/2025 17:03

Have I read the same post as everyone else? I can't fathom why OP is getting so much shit about this. Snooping through his post is completely out of order but apart from that I don't see why everyone is getting so worked up.

They were married 25 years, have two kids and still spend a fair bit of time together. It affects her as it will affect the kids and I think he has a responsibility to share the information with her.

Snooping his post is a gross invasion of privacy.

no one - regardless of who they are - has any right to any information about my health unless I choose to tell them.

They are split up. It is nothing to do with her.

But @PlainJaneBrain isn’t going to come back. I bet. And if she does she will have a million excuses why it was her “right”.

No. It wasn’t.

Brainstorm23 · 07/09/2025 17:07

Icanttakethisanymore · 07/09/2025 17:07

You sound awful.

You sound awful.

Icanttakethisanymore · 07/09/2025 17:07

You sound awful.

nomas · 07/09/2025 17:05

Crazycatladywithnocats · 07/09/2025 17:04

What did you think people were going to say when you admitted looking at his post? It’s rather brave of you saying that however.

I think were supposed to admire the resourcefulness.

Crazycatladywithnocats · 07/09/2025 17:04

What did you think people were going to say when you admitted looking at his post? It’s rather brave of you saying that however.

kkloo · 07/09/2025 17:04

Remingtonsteele · 07/09/2025 16:53

The fuck it is.

Shes an ex. It’s fuck all to do with her.

Well this thread is just a perfect example of MN world rules compared to actual world rules.

In real life obviously people would tell their co-parent if they've been diagnosed with cancer.

augustusglupe · 07/09/2025 17:04

Oh why would you confront him?
My brother had cancer, diagnosed quite late I think. I say that because he didn’t tell us, his sisters. My older sister bumped into him by accident and it was pretty clear there was something wrong. She asked him could she tell us and after that we were there for him but also kept our distance.
He died 5 years later, but even then we only knew he was dying weeks before. He hadn’t wanted to worry us. Our parents were long gone. At his funeral Joyce Grenfells ‘If I should go’ was read out. That poem summed up my brother perfectly. He didn’t want fuss & bother or to hear us concerned or change the way we were with him. I honestly think that if my sister hadn’t bumped into him that day that he would’nt have told us atall.
Dont be angry with him OP this is not about you. Imagine how frightened he must be.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 07/09/2025 17:04

kkloo · 07/09/2025 17:03

Yes it does. She mentions that they are co-parents in the second line and the last line says they have 2 early teens.

Doesn’t matter. She doesn’t have to know until he decides.

FuzzyWolf · 07/09/2025 17:03

shuggles · 07/09/2025 16:53

@PlainJaneBrain I found out almost by accident (snooping in his post while at his flat).

I believe this is illegal.

Can anyone confim whether it's illegal to go through someone else's mail?

Yes if opened but if the post had already been opened and just put back in the envelope, it’s morally wrong (not sure of any legalities).

Sunshineismyfavourite · 07/09/2025 17:03

No, sorry OP you have invaded his privacy by snooping. It's up to him how he deals with his cancer diagnosis and treatment. It is a massive thing to go through - he didn't want you or anyone else to know, he has a right to this privacy. Just let him deal with it how he wants to.

kkloo · 07/09/2025 17:03

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 07/09/2025 16:54

Didn't seem to mention that in op, just her snooping and how it would affect her.

Yes it does. She mentions that they are co-parents in the second line and the last line says they have 2 early teens.

Brainstorm23 · 07/09/2025 17:03

Have I read the same post as everyone else? I can't fathom why OP is getting so much shit about this. Snooping through his post is completely out of order but apart from that I don't see why everyone is getting so worked up.

They were married 25 years, have two kids and still spend a fair bit of time together. It affects her as it will affect the kids and I think he has a responsibility to share the information with her.

ninjahamster · 07/09/2025 17:02

Oh goodness. Awful for him and entirely his business if he wanted to keep it quiet. You’ve been really unreasonable going through his mail and also expecting to be updated on his life.

noworklifebalance · 07/09/2025 17:02

Wow. Just wow.

chunkybear · 07/09/2025 17:01

You were completely out of line. It’s a curable form of cancer, the treatment is really unpleasant, and he’s chosen to deal with it his way

BIossomtoes · 07/09/2025 17:00

kkloo · 07/09/2025 16:51

They share children. Of course it's her business.

No it isn’t.

VenerableFreed · 07/09/2025 16:59

Sorry, I think you’re being unreasonable. When someone is seriously ill, it’s up to them to deal with it as they see fit. No-one is entitled to know about it.

I would probably tell DH and my employer, confidentially. I wouldn’t tell my parents, DD, my friends, or anyone else, unless it became absolutely necessary to do so.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 07/09/2025 16:58

It's his business. My exH doesn't know about my cancer.

Nurseleaver82 · 07/09/2025 16:57

You're reaction is pretty awful, his reaction sounds as though he is also v low in mood. He's probably struggling with the diagnosis and how he's going to tell everyone and your reaction being all about you is probably part of the reason he didn't tell you. This poor man and his children x

Humanswarm · 07/09/2025 16:57

So you now know. But please, leave him deal with it how he wishes. It is not your place or anyone else's to speculate on how someone should deal with cancer. He doesn't need guilt tripping.

whitewineandsun · 07/09/2025 16:57

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 07/09/2025 16:54

Didn't seem to mention that in op, just her snooping and how it would affect her.

It does say that they're co-parents. But she still has no right to know anything he doesn't want to tell her, IMO.

FreyjaOfTheNorth · 07/09/2025 16:56

What wer you hoping to find when you snooped through his post? He clearly doesn’t mean the world to you.

DiscoBob · 07/09/2025 16:56

It's really not your place to feel angry or betrayed that he didn't tell you.

Some people feel the need to deal with these things alone and that should be respected.

He needs your support right now. Not feelings of disapproval over when/how you found out his diagnosis.

Remingtonsteele · 07/09/2025 16:55

I’m having cancer surgery in just over a week.

The fuck I’m telling my ex husband.