A study from the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that people in couples fight cancer better.
Married people who have cancer live longer than those who don’t. A stable family life almost doubles the chances of adhering to cancer treatment. In contrast, a troubled home environment increases the chance that treatment will not work by one and a half times. This is what reveals the study conducted by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (link in english), published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. An unmarried patient is thus twice as likely to receive the appropriate treatment and is more likely to develop metastatic cancer.
“Our data suggests that marriage can have a significant impact on the health of cancer patients,” analyzes Dr. Ayal Aizer, co-author of the report. We believe that the support of the spouses explains the better chances of remission. “. The spouses ensure that the patient understands the medical recommendations and follows his treatment. The family also pushes for a faster diagnosis, when the treatment is most effective.
A stable environment for better remission
Statistics from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute confirm that a happy life helps fight cancer. Thus, for the cancers studied (prostate, breast, colon, esophagus, brain, nose-mouth-throat), the benefit obtained from support from those around him is greater than that obtained from chemotherapy. Conversely, a depressive state increases mortality from 19% to 39%.
However, the authors of the report do not intend to praise marriage. They present the study “as a message to anyone who has a friend or spouse with cancer.” By being there for that person, accompanying them between their appointments and during their treatments, you can make a difference in their chances of survival. The support of the whole entourage counts as much as that of a husband.
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