Loneliness makes cancer more expected and fatal

New confirmation adds weight to suggestions that loneliness makes cancer both more likely and deadly.

Work in actions of the National Academy of Science shows social isolation guidelines the odds in favor of forceful cancer increase.

Rodents kept alone developed more tumors - and tumors of a more lethal type - than rats living as a group.

The researchers put it down to stress and say the same may well be true in humans.
Cancer experts say more work is needed to prove such a link in people.

Lead investigator Gretchen Hermes, of Yale University, said: "There is growing interest in associations between the environment, feeling and disease.
"This study offers insight into how the social world gets under the skin."

Tension
Doctors already know that cancer patients who are depressed tend to fare not as good as in terms of survival.


And earlier research has recommended that social support can get better health outcomes for patients with breast cancer.
In the most recent study, the researchers found that isolation and stress trebled the risk of breast cancer in the naturally sociable Norway rats.

Outcast rodents developed 84 times the amount of tumors as those living in tight-knit social groups, and the tumors also proved to be more aggressive.

The isolated mammals also had higher levels of the stress hormone corticosterone and took longer to recover from a stressful circumstances than fellow Norway rats.
The researchers ultimately hope their work will help cancer patients.


Way of life

Co-researcher Martha McClintock, a psychologist at the University of Chicago, said: "We need to use these findings to recognize potential targets for intervention to decrease cancer."

Ed Yong, of Cancer Research UK, said: "This study was done in rats.
"Overall, research in humans does not suggest there is a direct link between stress and breast cancer.

"But it's possible that stressful situations could indirectly affect the risk of cancer by making people more likely to take up unhealthy behaviors that raise their risk, such as overeating, heavy drinking, or smoking."