PURPOSE: We examined marital outcomes among cancer survivors diagnosed during early adulthood from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset. METHODS: Eligible participants were ages 20-39 years. Of the 74,433 eligible, N = 1,198 self-reported a cancer diagnosis between the ages of 18 and 37, were ≥2 years past diagnosis, and did not have non-melanoma skin cancer. The remaining N = 67,063 were controls. Using generalized linear models adjusted for age, gender, race, and education, we generated relative risks (RR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) to examine survivor status on indicators of ever married, currently married, and divorced/separated. RESULTS: Survivors were slightly older than controls [33.0 (SD = 3.8) vs. 30.0 (SD = 4.0); p < 0.001]. Average time since diagnosis was 7.4 years. Most common diagnoses were cervical (females; 45 %) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (males; 20 %). Survivors were less likely to be currently married than controls (58 % vs. 64 %; RR = 0.92, 95 % CI 0.85-0.99). Among ever married participants, survivors were at an increased risk of divorce/separation than controls (18 % vs. 10 %; RR = 1.77, 95 % CI 1.43-2.19). Divorce/separation risk persisted for female survivors (RR 1.83, 95 % CI 1.49-2.25), survivors ages 20-29 (RR 2.57, 95 % CI 1.53-4.34), and survivors ages 30-39 (RR 1.62, 95 % CI 1.29-2.04). CONCLUSIONS: The emotional and financial burdens of cancer may lead to marital stress for younger cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Young survivors may face a higher risk of divorce; support systems are needed to assist them in the years following diagnosis.
PURPOSE: We examined marital outcomes among cancer survivors diagnosed during early adulthood from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset. METHODS: Eligible participants were ages 20-39 years. Of the 74,433 eligible, N = 1,198 self-reported a cancer diagnosis between the ages of 18 and 37, were ≥2 years past diagnosis, and did not have non-melanoma skin cancer. The remaining N = 67,063 were controls. Using generalized linear models adjusted for age, gender, race, and education, we generated relative risks (RR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) to examine survivor status on indicators of ever married, currently married, and divorced/separated. RESULTS: Survivors were slightly older than controls [33.0 (SD = 3.8) vs. 30.0 (SD = 4.0); p < 0.001]. Average time since diagnosis was 7.4 years. Most common diagnoses were cervical (females; 45 %) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (males; 20 %). Survivors were less likely to be currently married than controls (58 % vs. 64 %; RR = 0.92, 95 % CI 0.85-0.99). Among ever married participants, survivors were at an increased risk of divorce/separation than controls (18 % vs. 10 %; RR = 1.77, 95 % CI 1.43-2.19). Divorce/separation risk persisted for female survivors (RR 1.83, 95 % CI 1.49-2.25), survivors ages 20-29 (RR 2.57, 95 % CI 1.53-4.34), and survivors ages 30-39 (RR 1.62, 95 % CI 1.29-2.04). CONCLUSIONS: The emotional and financial burdens of cancer may lead to marital stress for younger cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Young survivors may face a higher risk of divorce; support systems are needed to assist them in the years following diagnosis.
Authors: Clare Frobisher; Emma R Lancashire; David L Winter; Aliki J Taylor; Raoul C Reulen; Michael M Hawkins Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Alix Edna Hall; Allison Wendy Boyes; Jennifer Bowman; Raoul A Walsh; Erica L James; Afaf Girgis Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2011-07-01 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Clare Frobisher; Emma R Lancashire; David L Winter; Helen C Jenkinson; Michael M Hawkins Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2007-08-15 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: Christopher Janson; Wendy Leisenring; Cheryl Cox; Amanda M Termuhlen; Ann C Mertens; John A Whitton; Pamela Goodman; Lonnie Zeltzer; Leslie L Robison; Kevin R Krull; Nina S Kadan-Lottick Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Deborah B Crom; Zhenghong Li; Tara M Brinkman; Melissa M Hudson; Gregory T Armstrong; Joseph Neglia; Kirsten K Ness Journal: J Pediatr Oncol Nurs Date: 2014-07-15 Impact factor: 1.636
Authors: Pragya G Poudel; Hailey E Bauer; D Kumar Srivastava; Kevin R Krull; Melissa M Hudson; Leslie L Robison; Zhaoming Wang; I-Chan Huang Journal: JCO Clin Cancer Inform Date: 2021-08
Authors: Echo L Warner; Erin E Kent; Kelly M Trevino; Helen M Parsons; Bradley J Zebrack; Anne C Kirchhoff Journal: Cancer Date: 2016-02-05 Impact factor: 6.860