Unmarried people are more likely to get cancer, study finds
They collected data from over 4 million cancer cases from 100 million people over 12 states in the U.S.
A study by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center found that people who are unmarried have a higher risk of developing cancer. On April 8, the seven-year-long (2015-2022) study was published in Cancer Research Communications. Researchers conducted the study in 12 states in the U.S., collecting data from over 4 million cancer cases involving 100 million people above the age of 30 who were married and unmarried. The purpose of the study was to compare the rates of cancer between the married and unmarried groups. People who were in relationships but not legally bound by marriage were not included in the study. including California, New York, New Jersey, Utah, Hawaii, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Georgia, New Mexico, Kentucky, and Louisiana. They
Dr. Paulo Pinheiro, who co-authored the study, said, "Marriage as a protective factor in cancer risk has been largely ignored so far, and this is the first study. We wanted to know who is more likely to get cancer, married people or unmarried people?" It is a known fact that married people tend to have stronger support systems and slightly better economic stability in comparison to someone who is unmarried. People in the married group also included people who were widowed and divorced.
The study showed significant differences between men and women. 70% of men who were never married were more likely to develop cancer than married men, and 85% of unmarried women were more likely to develop cancer when compared to married women.
Out of these, unmarried men run the risk of getting anal cancer five times more than married men. Unmarried women are three times more likely to get cervical cancer compared to married women. Anal and cervical cancers are connected to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections. The study also found that unmarried Black men had a higher chance of developing the disease compared to married Black men. On another note, married Black men reported lower cancer rates in comparison to married white men.
With these numbers backing up the study, Dr. Frank Penedo, the director of the Sylvestor Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute (SSCI), said, "If you’re not married, you should be paying extra attention to cancer risk factors, getting any screenings you may need, and staying up to date on health care." However, both Dr. Pinheiro and Dr. Penedo also emphasized that getting married does not automatically prevent cancer.
According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer in women is one of the most common cancers in the U.S. in 2025, with up to 316,950 cases. This is followed by prostate cancer with 313,780 cases in 2025, lung cancer at 226,650 cases, both colon and rectal at 154,270 cases, melanoma cases at 104,960, 84,870 bladder cancer cases, and more.
As this disease rises and grows in popularity across the globe, studies such as these are crucial to establish links between lifestyle and illness. The more we know, the better guarded we are for tomorrow. However, the conclusions of this particular study have rightfully sent everyone's head spinning.
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