I kept my health issues from people while I was dating, because there's a certain type who fucking loves that shit. They really get off on dating "broken" women.  I have a partner now, and we've been seeing one another for three years, and he's one of my best friends and supports me on this journey I'm on, but no way in hell is he my sole support network member. I'm fairly self reliant, but I have a solid end of live contingency plan if it comes to it, and no way in hell am I ever going to rely just on him. He's just one person and that burden is not his to carry.  There is a type though who loves the headpats and attention that comes from being with a person with a life shortening illness.