Research shows that cancer survivors who feel lonely have a higher risk of dying.
The study, led by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and published in the journal National Comprehensive Cancer Network (JNCNC), found that cancer survivors According to a press release, people with the highest levels of loneliness had the highest risk of mortality.
Researchers extracted data from the 2008-2018 Health and Retirement Study and analyzed 3,447 cancer survivors aged 50 and older.
They used the UCLA Loneliness Scale to measure level of lonelinessFrom zero to severe.
“In this study, we found that elevated loneliness was associated with high mortality risk among cancer survivors,” study author Jingxuan Zhao, senior associate scientist, Health Services Research at the ACS, told Fox News Digital in an email.
Cancer survivors who feel lonely have a higher risk of dying, new research shows. (iStock)
“Prior research has shown that loneliness is associated with higher mortality risk in the general population, and the results are generally as expected.”
Zhao said the researchers were somewhat surprised by the “robustness” of the findings and the fact that the risk of mortality was related to the degree of loneliness reported by survivors.
More than 18 million people in the U.S. are cancer survivors and that number is expected to rise to 22 million by 2030, the release said.
“We need to address this important issue now,” Zhao said.
Steps to Prevent Loneliness Among Survivors
Based on the findings, researchers are calling for more programs to investigate loneliness and improve social support For cancer survivors.
“This study has important clinical implications for health care providers,” Zhao said.
“For many older adults, retirement, death of friends and spouses, loss of mobility, pain, illness, cognitive decline, and life changes contribute to a sense of lack of purpose, which can cause or worsen depression. “, mental health expert warned (iStock)
“Our findings also highlight the importance of care coordination cancer care doctor and other specialty care providers and primary care to ensure that cancer survivors receive timely screening and effective interventions for loneliness.”
“This study is particularly in keeping with recent advice from the U.S. Surgeon General on the healing effects of social contact and community, which highlights the adverse effects of loneliness for individuals,” Zhao said. public health.,
Surgeon General warns, the crisis of loneliness looming over America can be as deadly as smoking
Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the ACS’s Cancer Action Network, stressed the importance of investing in “patient navigation services” to help meet the social and emotional needs of survivors.
“No one should have to face cancer alone, and having a patient navigator helps ensure no one has to, by providing needed support during a complex and confusing diagnosis,” she said in the release.
Mental health experts reveal reactions
Diana Santiago, a licensed clinical social worker and supervisor of the older adult program at Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania, said the epidemic of loneliness older adults is “real and widespread” – and not just among cancer survivors.
“Often, older adults will limit their social interactions and activities due to illness, fatigue, or physical limitations.”
“For many older adults, retirement, death of friends and spouses, loss of mobility, pain, illness, cognitive decline, and life changes contribute to a sense of lack of purpose, leading to or worsening depression” she told Fox News Digital.
“All of these factors are isolating, and often older adults will limit their social interactions and activities due to illness, fatigue, or physical limitations.”
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Dr. Barbara Krantz, medical director of the Florida branch of Karen Treatment Centers, said she agrees that health care providers should screen for loneliness.
“Identifying these patients can lead to diagnosis, treatment, and survival to improve their lives and give them hope for the future,” he said.
Experts agreed that providers should screen for loneliness. (iStock)
The researchers acknowledged that the ACS study had some limitations.
“Cancer-related information, such as type of cancer, stage at diagnosis and whether respondents were receiving cancer treatment At the time of the survey, it was not systematically collected,” Zhao told Fox News Digital.
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“Understanding whether these cancer-related factors may modify the relationship between loneliness and survival will be important for future studies.”
