New research suggests that cancer survivors who experience loneliness may have a higher likelihood of death than those with more social support, contributing to the growing concern over a “loneliness epidemic” in the United States.
Feelings of isolation have previously been linked to health conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
Loneliness and Its Potential Effects
“Loneliness may be linked to worse survival following a cancer diagnosis through multiple mechanisms, such as the increased risk of experiencing negative emotions such as hostility, stress and anxiety, increased unhealthy behaviors including smoking, alcohol abuse and less physical activity, or through physiological pathways such as immune system disorders,” explained Jingxuan Zhao, the study author and a senior associate scientist at the American Cancer Society.
Zhao also suggested that lonelier cancer survivors might not receive the practical and emotional support they require for their symptoms.
Details of the Study
Zhao and her colleagues analyzed data from nearly 3,450 cancer survivors aged 50 and older, who were part of the 2008-2018 Health and Retirement Study, and followed through the end of 2020.
Participants’ feelings of loneliness were assessed every four years, and they were categorized into four groups based on the degree of loneliness they experienced: low/no loneliness, mild loneliness, moderate loneliness, and high loneliness.
The study showed that cancer survivors who reported any level of loneliness were more likely to die during the follow-up period than those who did not feel lonely.
The risk of dying increased with the severity of loneliness. The findings remained significant even after controlling for factors such as age.
Suggestions to Combat Loneliness
To address this issue, researchers suggest creating more opportunities for cancer survivors to connect with others.
Zhao recommended that they could connect with other cancer survivors or join support groups to share their experiences.
In addition, reaching out to social workers, therapists, or other healthcare professionals could be helpful.
Caregivers, including family and friends, should be aware that loneliness can affect the health of cancer survivors.
“Ask cancer survivors about their feelings or help them navigate programs that can screen for loneliness and provide social support to those in need,” Zhao advised.
Identifying lonely individuals can be challenging, but Zhao suggests that those who live alone or have fewer social connections might be at higher risk of experiencing loneliness.
The study’s findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago and are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer for the American Cancer Society, said, “Research like this highlights the important opportunity role of oncology teams and primary care providers in assessing for loneliness and creating community-based interventions to ensure that no one experiences or survives cancer alone.”
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