Wayne State University

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Wayne State University

Public Relations

Media Report

September 2, 2009

Cancer patients separated from spouse at diagnosis die sooner

http://www.wwj.com/Cancer-Patients-Separated-From-Spouse-At-Diagnosis/5138003

Cancer patients who are separated from their spouses at the time of their diagnosis do not live as long as widowed, divorced and never married patients, according to a new study to be published in CA, the journal of the American Cancer Society. “This study should help us understand the role of how important social support is for the cancer patient and how it impacts outcome of cancer therapy,” said Dr. Andre Konski, professor and chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Wayne State University’s School of Medicine, who took part in the study.

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