Embrace Social Support
Embrace Social Support
Social support: A network of family, friends, neighbors, and community members that is available in times of need to give psychological, physical, and financial help.
This 2024 study says social supports are most commonly classified into 3 major categories, including socio-emotional (listening, emotional support), tangible or instrumental (housework, transport, financial help)l, and informational supports (sharing information or advice).
The study says a positive association has been demonstrated between social supports, quality of life, and survival outcomes in cancer.
The study also highlighted Key findings suggesting an association between social support and clinical outcome in cancer:
Cancer Survival:
Social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increased risk of risk of all-cause mortality, and increased risk of cancer mortality (meta-analysis of 90 prospective cohort studies, including >2 million adults) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37337095/)
Higher perceived social support associated with 60% lower odds of death (study of 568 patients with gastrointestinal cancers) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34806126/)
Cancer recurrence
The After Breast Cancer Pooling Project demonstrated higher rates of both cancer recurrence and breast cancer-specific mortality in more socially isolated women (study of 9267 patients with breast cancer) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27943274/)
Quality of life
Higher perceived social support found to be associated with lower depressive symptoms and higher health-related quality of life (study of 1818 patients with cancer (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28531292/)
Social support positively predictive of better physical and mental health-related quality of life (study of 412 patients with breast cancer) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24700668/)
More studies showing the importance of Social Support
Increased Survival Rates:
A research study conducted at Stanford University (1989) found that women with metastatic breast cancer who participated in support groups lived twice as long as those who did not attend these groups (36·6 months vs 18.9 months).
A 2023 study of 568 cancer patients found that lower perceived social support was significantly associated with poorer survival.
This study says: Research suggests that social support has an impact on physical health, well-being and adjustment to cancer of cancer patients.
In addition, evidence reveals that social support is beneficial for cancer patients and there is positive relationship between emotional support from family members and the level of physical and psychological adjustment to cancer.
In a study that examined which supports (depending on the person giving the support) cancer patients found useful, it was found that cancer patients believed that the emotional support given by the people they felt close was really significant. The patients in that study regarded the reassurance and emotional support given by nurses as important while they considered the informational support given by doctors as useful.
Professional care, friendly atmosphere and full access to information
This study says: Every disease, and cancer in particular, constitutes a considerable psychological burden and a source of crisis. Professional care, friendly atmosphere and full access to information connected with the health problem may contribute to the reduction of undesired stimuli.
Social connections and cancer mortality
This study found: The association between social connections and cancer incidence, mortality, and prognosis during 17 years of follow-up was examined in a population-based sample of 6,848 adults. Women who were socially isolated were at significantly elevated risk of dying of cancer of all sites and of smoking-related cancers, and men with few social connections showed significantly poorer cancer survival rates.
Loneliness and Social isolation increases cancer mortality
This 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 studies said meta-analysis demonstrated loneliness/social isolation was associated with increased all-cause mortality and cancer-specific mortality.
This study says: Prospective studies, which control for baseline health status, consistently show increased risk of death among persons with a low quantity, and sometimes low quality, of social relationships.
Depression and cancer mortality
Depressed patients may be less likely than non-depressed patients to recruit, retain and benefit from social support and from other forms of social capital, according to his study.
In this study of supportive-expressive group therapy, 125 women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) completed a depression symptom measure at baseline and were randomly assigned to a treatment group or to a control group that received educational materials.
Median survival time was 53.6 months for women with decreasing depression symptom measure scores over 1 year and 25.1 months for women with increasing depression symptom measure scores.
This study says: Based on data from 25 independent studies, mortality rates were up to 25% higher in patients experiencing depressive symptoms, and up to 39% higher in patients diagnosed with major or minor depression. In support of a causal interpretation of results, there was no evidence that adjusting for known clinical prognostic factors diminished the effect of depression on mortality in cancer patients.
My family and friends were definitely the key to my recovery. One thing that I do suggest is that anyone dealing with a life-threatening illness like cancer choose a point person for people to call to find out how you are doing – a sister, brother, mother, father, daughter, son, or close friend.
Olivia Newton-John
Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds
Kelly Turner, PhD, a researcher who specializes in integrative oncology, studied one hundred cancer survivors and analysed over one thousand cases of people who experienced a “radical remission” from “incurable” cancer. She found that these people did not sit around waiting for a miracle, but made significant changes in their lives. Dr Kelley found ten healing factors common among all of the cases she studied. These ten key factors are:
- Radically changing your diet
- Taking control of your health
- Following your intuition
- Using herbs and supplements
- Releasing suppressed emotions
- Increasing positive emotions
- Embracing social support
- Deepening your spiritual connection
- Having strong reasons for living
- Daily physical exercise
See more at www.RadicalRemission.com.
Page last updated January 2026