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Penny underwent a lumpectomy then received chemotherapy and radiation. Penny* of Pompano Beach, Florida, saw her marriage flounder and ultimately collapse after she received a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ in her left breast. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior offered a similar conclusion regarding the impact on female patients. “Female gender was found to be the strongest predictor in separation or divorce in each cohort,” the study authors noted. According to a study published in the journal Cancer, a woman with cancer or other serious illness is six times more likely to be separated or divorced soon after receiving her diagnosis than a male patient. However, not all relationships are strong enough to survive a cancer diagnosis, and the details of the cancer course can affect this as well. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, for example, noted that married patients tended to have cancer diagnosed at an earlier stage, when it can be more successfully treated receive more appropriate treatment and live longer than patients who are not married. This is important because studies show that being in a close relationship can dramatically improve patient outcomes. In most cases, couples draw closer during the cancer journey and come through the experience with their relationship intact. A diagnosis of cancer can affect every aspect of a patient’s life - including their relationship with their spouse or partner.

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