New research has suggested that cancer survivors who feel lonely may be more likely to die than those with more social support. The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, looked at data on nearly 3,450 cancer survivors aged 50 and older and found that those who reported any loneliness were more likely to die during the follow-up period than their counterparts who were not lonely. The more lonely a person was, the greater their risk of dying. The researchers assessed loneliness every four years and grouped participants into four categories: low/no loneliness; mild loneliness; moderate loneliness; and high loneliness. The study author, Jingxuan Zhao, explained that loneliness may be linked to worse survival following a cancer diagnosis through multiple mechanisms, such as increased risk of negative emotions, unhealthy behaviors including smoking and alcohol abuse, and immune system disorders. It is also possible that cancer survivors who feel lonelier might not receive the practical and emotional support they need for their symptoms. The study suggests that caregivers, including family members and friends, should be aware that cancer survivors may experience loneliness, which may affect their health, and should ask about their feelings and help them navigate programs that can screen for loneliness and provide social support to those in need. The researchers also suggested that connecting cancer survivors with other people who have had cancer or joining a support group and sharing their experience may reduce feelings of loneliness. It is important for oncology teams and primary care providers to assess for loneliness and create community-based interventions to ensure that no one experiences or survives cancer alone.
Loneliness reduces cancer survival rates
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