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New study finds social support linked with improved cancer screening

A new study released on Oct. 17 shows social support measures were associated with improved cancer screening to varying degrees by site and age in the United States. The report found women who reported never or rarely receiving social-emotional support were nearly 40% less likely to be up to date with mammogram screening compared to those receiving it always. Also, living with a spouse or partner, but not children, was associated with increased participation in screening for breast and colorectal cancer. The findings are published today in the journal Cancer Causes & Control.

“Social relationships can influence cancer screening in a variety of ways, like shaping access to emotional support and material resources. We were interested in looking at living arrangements and residential stability as structural sources of social support in the US," said Dr. Jordan Baeker Bispo, principal scientist, cancer disparity research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the study. “These findings highlight the need for interventions that can help mobilize social support networks and address the unmet social needs of parents and caregivers."

Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Dr. Hyunjung Lee, Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, and senior author Dr. Farhad Islami.

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