Should’ve put a ring on it? Maybe! Marriage is linked to lower risk of cancer | CNN

Marriage has existed for thousands of years – and it was once “almost universal,” according to Dr. Andrew J. Cherlin. But marriage rates are falling, and that means some people may be missing out on a potential health benefit. “It’s almost as if we split into two different societies,” said Cherlin, a professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins University, who studies the sociology of families – pointing to the advantages marriage can confer. A study published Wednesday in the journal Cancer Research Communications suggests that matrimony may be linked to a lower risk of cancer, adding to a growing body of research tying it to improved health outcomes. Among never-married men, cancer rates are 68% higher than those who have been married, a group that includes those who have been divorced or widowed. The incidence is even higher – 83% – for women who have never married. “When it comes to getting cancer, putting a ring on it may offer more protection to women,” said Dr. Brad Wilcox, a professor at the University of Virginia who studies marriage. Wilcox, who was not involved with the new research, added, “That’s striking.” Research on marriage generally suggests