Marriage Linked to Lower Cancer Risk, Study Shows
A recent study from the University of Miami highlights that married individuals may have a lower risk of developing cancer compared to those who have never married. Dr. Namrata Vijayvergia, a medical oncologist, offers insights on how marriage can lead to better health outcomes.
According to the research, which involved over 4 million Americans across 12 different states, individuals who are not married are significantly more prone to various cancer types. The risk is particularly pronounced in preventable cancers linked to unhealthy lifestyles, such as those caused by smoking or infections.
The findings reveal that unmarried men face a 70% higher risk of developing cancer than their married peers, while never-married women have an 85% increased risk. This extensive study is one of the first to indicate that marital status could serve as a key factor in predicting cancer risk.
Study co-author Paulo Pinheiro, an epidemiology professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, noted, “These results suggest that social factors like marital status may be important indicators of cancer risk at the population level.”
Researchers conducted their study by examining cancer cases diagnosed in individuals aged 30 and above from 2015 to 2022. They compared cancer rates with the participants’ marital statuses, breaking down the data by gender and race while adjusting for age.
The study found that adult men who had never married had an approximately fivefold increase in the rate of anal cancer compared to their married counterparts. Similarly, women who remained unmarried showed nearly three times the incidence of cervical cancer compared to those who were or had been married.
Frank Penedo, director of the Sylvester Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute at the University of Miami, emphasized that these results highlight the increased risk for some individuals.
For women, being married—or often having children—may also correlate with lower risks of ovarian and endometrial cancers. This could be linked to hormonal and biological changes associated with pregnancy, according to the researchers.
However, experts clarify that marital status alone should not be seen as a protective factor against cancer. Penedo advised that those who are unmarried must remain vigilant about cancer risk factors, ensuring they keep up with screenings and overall healthcare.
The research team also speculated that healthier lifestyle choices, such as less smoking and drinking, might be more common among married individuals, influencing their findings. More studies are needed to further explore this connection.
The study was published in the journal Cancer Research Communications.
