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Some aspects of quality of life also differed among marital groups. Divorced patients had greater financial concerns than patients in the other groups, while married and widowed patients had greater spirituality and better social support.
Smaller, less well-controlled studies have reported longer survival for married patients with lung cancer. The extensive Mayo Clinic NSCLC database provided an opportunity to re-evaluate the relationship between marriage and lung cancer survival.
The findings show no differences in survival based on marital status. "Nonetheless, marital status at times appeared to have influenced whether or not a patient received certain types of cancer therapy," the researchers write.
The subgroup analyses also suggest other differences in lung cancer treatment and quality of life that are worthy of further exploration, Dr. Jatoi and coauthors believe. They conclude, "Thus, health care providers
should continue to remain sensitive to the importance of human bonds as they care for patients with NSCLC."
The new article, entitled "Does Marital Status Impact Survival and Quality of Life in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer? Observations from the Mayo Clinic Lung Cancer Cohort," is available online at http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org and in print in the December issue of "The Oncologist."
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