Adults who don't get married face higher cancer risk, studies suggest

Adults who have never been married face a higher risk of cancer compared to those who have been married, according to a new study from Cancer Research Communication.

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The difference is substantial, with cancer rates about 68 percent higher in men and 85 percent higher in women who have never married.

The higher risk is across nearly every type of cancer.

Some cancers showed especially large differences, including those linked to infections, smoking, and alcohol, including lung and esophageal cancer.

While differences were smaller for cancers like breast, prostate, and thyroid.

This association is the strongest among adults age 55 and above.

Never-married Black men showed the highest cancer risk of any group, according to the study.

The findings suggest that marital status may be a meaningful social factor tied to cancer risk.