The first year after a cancer diagnosis is especially difficult for partners, research shows.
Having a partner with cancer may raise mental health risks, with research showing that spouses of cancer patients had higher rates of suicidal behaviour compared with the general population.
Danish researchers compared data of more than 400,000 spouses of people with cancer compared with 2 million people whose spouses did not have with cancer.
Over 30 years, the spouses of cancer patients were 28% more likely to attempt suicide compared to the spouses of people without cancer and were 47% more likely to die by suicide.
The likelihood of suicidal behaviour was even higher during the first year after diagnosis, when spouses were 45% more likely to attempt suicide and the risk of suicide death was more than 2.5 times higher.
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The researchers said the risk increase for suicidal behaviour was also higher when the cancer was diagnosed at an advanced stage and if the partner died after the cancer diagnosis.
“A greater burden of the disease may contribute to a higher level of psychological distress of the patient with cancer and a greater need of support and caregiving from their loved ones, particularly the spouse,” they said.
The risk was also higher among people with lower household income and those without a child with the cancer patient, they said.
“Clinical and societal awareness is therefore needed to help prevent suicidal behaviours in this vulnerable population.”
