'RHOC' Star Vicki Gunvalson Says Brooks Ayers' Cancer Diagnosis Saved Their Relationship -- Why He's A Changed Man

For years, Brooks Ayers may have been the most-hated Housewives husband, after he admitted to cheating on and even getting physical with his The Real Housewives of Orange County star girlfriend Vicki Gunvalson. But RadarOnline.com has learned that their relationship is better than ever, according to an insider, because of his recent cancer diagnosis!

As RadarOnline.com reported, Ayers was diagnosed with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma last year, and has been undergoing treatment at City of Hope, in Duarte, California.

Before the diagnosis, Brooks had been "very flirty with other women, and it was incredibly disrespectful to Vicki," an insider told RadarOnline.com. "They had broken up several times, only to get back together again. But fter the cancer diagnosis, Brooks realized what was truly important in his life, and that was Vicki. She has taken such great care of Brooks and he has moved in with her."

"The cancer diagnosis saved their relationship, and brought them much closer," the source said.

As for Brooks' health, "He isn't out of the woods yet, not by a long shot," the source revealed. "This is going to be a very tough fight for Brooks, and he is getting fantastic medical care at the City of Hope."

However, Vicki's daughter, Briana, still isn't on board with the relationship, the insider claimed. "Brooks has tried to reach out to Briana, for Vicki's sake," said the source. "But it seems Briana thinks Brooks is using Vicki as a nursemaid and will dump her once he is on the road to wellness."