Link Between Marital Status and Cancer Risk
Research from the University of Miami indicates that adults who have never married are substantially more likely to develop cancer. This finding is drawn from an extensive study involving over 4 million Americans across 12 states.
The study revealed that the heightened risk pertains to nearly all major cancer types, particularly those that are preventable, like cancers linked to smoking and infections.
Men who have never married exhibited a 70% increased likelihood of cancer compared to those who are married. For women, the statistic is even more startling—an 85% higher risk for never-married individuals.
Interestingly, while previous studies have hinted at marriage correlating with better survival rates post-cancer diagnosis, this research suggests that marital status might also be a significant predictor of cancer development.
Paulo Pinheiro, a co-author of the study and research professor of epidemiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, noted, “These findings suggest that social factors such as marital status may serve as important markers of cancer risk at the population level.”
Between 2015 and 2022, researchers examined cancer cases diagnosed in individuals aged 30 and older. They compared various cancer rates against participants’ marital status, adjusting for age and analyzing data by sex and race.
The study found that never-married men had roughly five times the rate of anal cancer compared to their married peers. Similarly, never-married women faced nearly three times the risk of cervical cancer compared to those who had been married.
Frank Penedo, director of the Sylvester Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute, remarked that this data signals a clear indication that some individuals are at a higher risk.
For women, marriage—and often the experience of motherhood—was associated with a reduced risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers, likely due to biological factors linked to pregnancy.
Experts emphasized that these findings don’t imply that marriage is a foolproof shield against cancer. Rather, it suggests that those who are unmarried should be particularly vigilant about cancer risk factors, screenings, and staying informed on healthcare.
The researchers also speculated that people who are married might engage in healthier behaviors, such as smoking and drinking less, which could also influence cancer risk.
They concluded that further investigations are required to validate these outcomes. The findings were published in the journal Cancer Research Communications.
