Bachelors twice as likely to die of cancer: study

They found that never being married when diagnosed rather than being divorced or widowed doubled the death rate in men from 18 to 35 per cent and in women more modestly from 17 to 22 per cent.

This is regardless of age,education,type of cancer,time since diagnosis and the stage of the disease.

The findings echo other studies that have shown marriage increases the mens lifespan more than the womens.

The differences in survival between unmarried and married people with cancer could possibly be explained by better general health at time of diagnosis or better adherence to treatment regimes and follow ups, said Syse.