E fundit!

17:41 World

Trump withdraws from 20% tariff on Strait of Hormuz/ Here's what he will replace the measure with

US President Donald Trump has backed away from imposing a ...

New study warns that loneliness may increase the risk of dying from cancer

2025-10-15 08:08:00, Shëndeti CNA

The findings suggest that our social connections may help shape cancer outcomes.

Cancer patients who are lonely or socially isolated appear to be at higher risk of dying - both from cancer and other causes, a new analysis has found.

In the study published in the medical journal BMJ Oncology, being lonely or socially isolated was associated with a 34% higher risk of dying from any cause and an 11% higher chance of dying from cancer, the analysis found.

The Canadian research team analyzed data from 16 previously published studies involving more than 1.6 million people with cancer in Canada, England, Finland, France, Ireland, Japan and the United States.

"These findings together suggest that loneliness and social isolation may influence cancer outcomes beyond traditional biological and treatment-related factors," the researchers said.

Social isolation and loneliness are related, but they are not the same thing. People are socially isolated when they lack relationships or contact with others; they are considered lonely when they feel alone, disconnected, or distant from others.

Researchers said that biologically, loneliness can trigger a stress response that impairs the immune system and causes inflammation, worsening a cancer patient's illness.

Cancer can also have a negative impact on people's mental health, for example if they feel that their loved ones don't understand what they are going through or if they experience fatigue and brain fog as a result of treatment.

The analysis has some limitations, particularly that the included studies used different methods and examined different outcomes, and unknown factors may also have influenced the results.

But the findings add to a growing body of evidence that loneliness and social isolation can harm people's health. Previous research has found that they can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression and anxiety, and suicidal behavior.

The study also comes at a time when the global burden of cancer is on the rise. The number of new cancer cases worldwide is expected to increase by almost 75 percent by 2050, with lower-income countries being hit hardest due to population growth and aging.

The latest findings show that more needs to be done to support the mental well-being of cancer patients, the researchers said.

They also called for more rigorous studies to confirm the findings and "inform the development of targeted psychosocial interventions in cancer care."/ CNA