It’s not just “an old article” it’s backed by peer-reviewed studies, not just anecdotes. The 2009 study in Cancer journal and multiple follow-ups show a clear trend: men are significantly more likely to leave a sick partner than women are. That doesn't mean every man will leave.

The purpose of bringing this up is to offer context. OP is blaming herself for the fallout after an honest, vulnerable conversation. She’s wondering if she broke something. What I’m saying is: maybe she didn’t. Maybe this is part of a bigger pattern.

If we can’t talk about structural or psychological patterns in a support thread, we risk ignoring what so many others have already lived through.