Those who are separated or going through a break up had only a 45 per cent chance of recovery
A recent study conducted by researchers at Indiana University suggests that married people are more likely to survive cancer, while those going through a break-up have the worst chance of beating it. After working with data on 3.8 million people diagnosed with cancer between the years 1973 and 2004, the researchers found that people who were married had a 63 per cent chance of surviving five years while people who were separated had 45 per cent chance. The team believes that the stress of separation probably affects survival rates. This is in line with other studies that find that the love and support are important in battling against illness. After marriage, never-married patients had the best outcomes, followed by those who had been divorced and then widowers. Lead researcher Dr. Gwen Sprehn cautioned, however, that more research was needed into the area.