A study has found that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of death from cancer and other causes among people living with the disease.
The study, a pooled analysis of 13 international studies involving more than 1.5 million patients, was led by researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada. It found that feelings of loneliness are relatively common among those diagnosed with cancer.
Drawing on data from over 2.1 million patients across nine of the studies, the researchers reported that loneliness was associated with an 11 per cent higher risk of dying from cancer, even after adjusting for the size and quality of the individual studies.
“These findings collectively suggest that loneliness and social isolation may influence cancer outcomes beyond traditional biological and treatment-related factors,” the authors wrote in their paper, published in BMJ Oncology.
How Loneliness May Affect Cancer Outcomes?
The team explored how loneliness could contribute to poorer outcomes, noting that the biological, psychological, and behavioural effects of isolation may all play a role.
The researchers asserted, “Biologically, the stress response triggered by loneliness may lead to immune dysregulation and heightened inflammatory activity, ultimately contributing to disease progression.”
The experience of living with cancer itself can deepen isolation.
Many patients face challenges that their loved ones may struggle to fully understand, including fear, stigma, and the psychological weight of ongoing treatment or survivorship.
These factors can affect patients’ mental well-being and limit social interaction.
Additionally, cancer therapies often cause physical and cognitive side effects, such as fatigue and memory difficulties, which may restrict social engagement.
Over time, the ongoing medical focus of life after diagnosis can also diminish one’s sense of identity and weaken community ties.
The researchers suggested that, if further studies confirm these findings, healthcare systems should routinely integrate psychosocial assessments and targeted interventions into cancer care to help improve survival and overall well-being.
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