Is Being Married an Advantage in Cancer?

Clinical Oncology research found greater risks of metastatic disease, inadequate effective treatment and cancer death among unmarried patients.

Harvard University in Boston examined patients between 2004-2008 with esophageal, ovarian, head and neck, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, intrahepatic bile duct, liver, prostate, pancreatic, breast, colorectal or lung cancers: 1.260.898 patients' data from the “Evaluation, Epidemiology and Results” program.

Considering stage, treatment and statistical analyses, married patients had less metastatic disease, more effective treatment and lower mortality. Individual cancer analyses showed the same significant association, particularly stronger benefits in married men than women. Treatments for prostate, breast, colorectal, esophageal and head and neck cancers prolonged survival more in married patients. Unmarried patients had greater metastatic, ineffective-treatment and mortality risks.

The data highlight social support's necessity in detection, treatment and survival, scientifically demonstrating again how important emotional support is in a person's life.