Singles and Cancer: Do People Living Alone Have a Higher Risk of Disease?
Today, love is in the air. At least a little. Because studies indicate that our friendships and relationships may have a greater impact on cancer risk and progression than is widely assumed.
Find out what is known about the link between relationships and cancer — and which insights people living alone can also use for themselves.
The Link Between Marital Status and Cancer: What Studies Show
One of the largest analyses on this topic is based on data from over one million cancer patients (Aizer et al., 2013).
It shows:
· unmarried individuals are more often diagnosed at an advanced stage
· they are less likely to receive guideline-based therapy
· and they have higher cancer-related mortality.
Population-based studies go further and examine whether differences can already be observed in cancer risk. Here, too, there are indications that people who remain single long-term have a higher risk of certain cancers (Kravdal, 2001).
Partnership status acts as a marker for differences in lifestyle and access to care. While we do not wish to generally assume that people living alone lead less healthy lives, research tends to suggest this to some extent.
Particular attention is paid to:
· lifestyle
· uptake of preventive services
· access to the healthcare system
· social support.
Links Between Lifestyle and Cancer Risk
A substantial part of the observed differences can be explained by behavioural patterns.
Studies show that single individuals are, on average, more likely to smoke or consume alcohol, while being less likely to participate in preventive screening programmes. (So, you are Single? Participate anyway!)
These factors are directly linked to certain types of cancer, in particular:
· lung cancer
· head and neck cancers
· liver cancer
(Kravdal, 2001).
The Importance of Early Detection and Diagnosis
Married individuals or those in a partnership are more likely to take part in screening programmes — perhaps because they encourage each other. As a result, tumours are detected earlier on average.
This often applies to:
· breast cancer
· colorectal cancer
· prostate cancer
Earlier diagnosis significantly improves prognosis (Osborne et al., 2005).
The Importance of Social Support
Differences can also be observed in behaviour following a cancer diagnosis. A meta-analysis shows that social integration is associated with lower cancer-related mortality. Possible explanations discussed include behavioral and psychosocial factors, such as differences in coping with the disease and in adherence to medical treatment (Pinquart & Duberstein, 2010).
Relationship Status and Cancer: These Types Are a Focus of Research
There are certain types of cancer for which the connections between the disease and a persons marriage or other relationships have been particularly well studied.
These include:
· breast cancer
· prostate cancer
· colorectal cancer
· lung cancer
· head and neck cancers
Significant differences in disease progression, treatment and even survival rates are evident — favouring individuals in a partnership compared to those living alone (Aizer et al., 2013).
Stable Relationships Do Not Protect Against Cancer, But ...
Family and friends can observe us in a variety of situations. What may sometimes feel annoying can, in the case of cancer, contribute to early detection. And in this context, the importance of the support that one’s social network can provide — even for those who are single — can hardly be overstated! Support in everyday life or a shoulder to lean on from time to time strengthens the mental resilience required to face cancer.
It may sound like a cliché, but we are stronger together. Support services are available, and even if it may sometimes feel that way, we are not alone.
FAQ – Links Between Social Environment and Cancer Have Long Been Studied
1. Since when has the relationship between marital status and health been studied?
Since the late 1970s. Early research already showed that social isolation is associated with increased mortality (Berkman & Syme, 1979).
2. Since when has the relationship been studied specifically in cancer?
Since the 1980s and 1990s. Early studies identified differences in diagnosis, treatment and survival depending on marital status (Goodwin et al., 1987; Kravdal, 2001).
You can find many more details on cancer and its treatment in the five volumes of our “Codex Humanus” and the corresponding titles in our “Medizinskandale” series. Please feel free to visit our online shop. Additional interesting insights — on many other topics as well — can be found in the articles on our blog.
Sources:
· Aizer, A. A. et al. (2013): “Marital Status and Survival in Patients with Cancer,” Journal of Clinical Oncology.
· Kravdal, Ø. (2001): “The Impact of Marital Status on Cancer Survival,” Social Science & Medicine.
· Osborne, C. et al. (2005): “The Influence of Marital Status on the Stage at Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival of Older Women with Breast Cancer,” Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
· Pinquart, M.; Duberstein, P. R. (2010): “Associations of Social Networks with Cancer Mortality: A Meta-Analysis,” Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology.
· Berkman, L. F.; Syme, S. L. (1979): “Social Networks, Host Resistance, and Mortality: A Nine-Year Follow-Up Study of Alameda County Residents,” American Journal of Epidemiology.
· Goodwin, J. S. et al. (1987): “The Effect of Marital Status on Stage, Treatment, and Survival of Cancer Patients,” JAMA.