Scientists Warn Being Single Increases Chance of Dying from Stomach Cancer; New Study Finds Men More at Risk

Singlehood has been long though to reside in the aspects of social life alone, in the context of family being the most fundamental unit of society.

However, scientists found in a new study that having a single life is linked to the survival of a patient with early stage gastric cancer.

In relation to the disease, the scientists found that there are varying physiological changes or habits between a single person and individuals who are married, with the former being a risk-taker and the latter to being more controlled.

Also called stomach cancer, gastric cancer is a form of disease caused by malignant tumors or cancerous cells in the gastrointestinal tract.

It belongs to the many types of cancers known as digestive cancers or adenocarcinomas.

The most known risk factors of the malignant cancer are age, diet, family history, and alcohol intake.

The notorious cancer is known for causing multiple deaths worldwide, wherein most cases have led to fatalities based on previous studies.

When left untreated, stomach cancer can lead to a relatively low survival rate with the patient having only a few years to live.

Gastric Cancer Survival

(Photo : Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

In a media release by BMJ Media Relations on Tuesday, July 5, scientists announced that marital status is likely a key factor in predicting the long term survival of people, with early stage gastric cancer, as correlated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The scientists aim to add their finding on current clinical and personal variables, used by doctors to inform the remaining time left a person can live following a stomach cancer diagnosis.

In particular, the study's potential intention is to include marital stats as a significant variable when conducting a diagnosis of this particular cancer type.

The study also mentioned the importance of early detection, since this could increase the survival rate of those suffering the cancer's early phase.

Also Read: Red and Processed Meat May Lead to Stomach Cancer

Nomogram: Mathematical Model

The new study's paper was published in the Journal of Investigative Medicine, wherein its method was through computational simulation or computational modeling.

The data sampling include two groups: a training group and a test group.

The training group consists of 2,719 participants, while the test group has 929 people in it.

The results yield that the married subjects in the first group had the best prognosis of an average 72% survival chance, while widows had only 60% chance.

It also showed that divorced women had a better survival rate than divorced men.

Biological Implications

The study postulates that the reason behind the conclusion is that married individuals tend to have a better financial control and receive more emotional encouragement from their respective spouses.

Between the two genders, lifestyle is also a factor when it comes to the development or worsening of their current gastric cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), stomach cancer accounts for approximately 1.5% of all new cancer diagnosis in the United States

. Elderly people within the age bracket of 65 years and above are also the age group most affected by the cancer.