When one of the two partners receives a serious diagnosis, pain and anxiety often not only put a strain on their own body, but also on the relationship. In order to keep the relationship and cohabitation harmonious, both the healthy and the ill partner must take equal care.

What can the healthy partner do in the relationship
- Be considerate of your partner's state of health. Ask more often how your partner feels, what they are feeling and what is annoying them. You shouldn't assume to know what your partner is thinking.

- The illness and associated difficulties can be addressed calmly. The healthy partner must also learn to deal with the situation and is allowed to be sad, anxious or angry. You should not bottle up your own worries in order to spare your sick partner.

- Everyday or unimportant topics can and should even be discussed. Despite illness, everyday life goes on and normal problems have to be solved.

- Show understanding when your partner is irritated and overreacts, because pain puts a strain on the nerves.

- You should tell your partner when you long for love and tenderness, but don't put pressure on them.

- Compromises should be made in sexuality in favour of the sick partner.

- Other forms of affection such as hugs are also important, as the partner needs comfort and emotional support.

- Don't be overprotective. The partner should be supported in their independence despite their illness.

- Your own needs, friends and hobbies should be limited at most, but not given up completely, because they give you strength.

- Joint activities should be organised according to the patient.

- What can the sick partner do in the relationship
The sick person should not expect their partner to automatically know what is going on inside them and how they are feeling.

- Important conversations should take place at times when the sick person is feeling well, so that both can communicate better.

- Don't just talk about the illness, but also choose other topics. Above all, the sick person should continue to take an interest in the life and feelings of the healthy partner.

- It is helpful to have your own circle of friends or a self-help group with people in similar situations.

- The sick person should try to allow love and tenderness. Despite the illness, the healthy partner continues to have sexual needs which, if increasingly unsatisfied, can cause lasting damage to the relationship.

- Show understanding for the healthy partner, because they are also suffering from the situation and need comfort.

- The healthy partner needs space for their own hobbies and friends, even if the sick person cannot take part in them.

- Do not show jealousy that the healthy partner can do things that the sick partner cannot do, and above all do not blame the partner for this.

- Joint activities that the patient can master, at least for a short time, should not be given up.

- The sick partner should thank the healthy partner from time to time for their help and support.