Marriage Improves Survival Odds in Colon Cancer

Previously, studies have reported an association between marital status and outcomes in several cancer sites including breast cancer.  Sven E. Wilson, from Brigham Young University (Utah, USA), and colleagues analyzed 127,753 patient records and found that married patients were at 14% lower risk of death from colon cancer, the fourth most common cancer in the US.  Similar to studies of other types of cancers, the researchers did find that married people were diagnosed at earlier stages of colon cancer and sought more aggressive treatment.   Speculating that spouses serve as an important informal caregiver during a critical time, and that extra support may translate into better disease management and, hence, better outcomes, the team concludes that: “Marriage was associated with better outcomes of colon cancer for both men and women, and being single was associated with lower survival rate from colon cancer.”