10/31/2025
💗 How Loneliness Influences Cancer Treatment
Loneliness doesn’t just affect our mood — it changes how the body heals. When someone feels isolated during cancer treatment, their body experiences chronic stress. This activates the sympathetic nervous system (our “fight or flight” mode) and raises stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine.
A recent meta‐analysis found that among cancer patients, loneliness or social isolation was associated with a 34% higher risk of death from any cause and an 11% increased risk of death from cancer specifically.
One large UK cohort of over 430,000 participants found that individuals in the most socially isolated group had significantly higher risks of several cancers (including breast cancer) compared with those less isolated.
Over time, this can:
🩵 Weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight infections or recover from treatment.
🩵 Increase inflammation, which may interfere with how cancer treatments work.
🩵 Reduce sleep quality, which is essential for healing and immune repair.
🩵 Affect mood and motivation, leading to poorer treatment adherence and lower energy for recovery.
On the other hand, social connection and emotional support have measurable benefits:
✨ Improved sleep and immune function
✨ Reduced fatigue and anxiety
✨ Better tolerance to chemotherapy or radiation
✨ Higher survival and recovery rates in some studies
