Private MD News

Men whose wives are treated for breast cancer face health risk factors

Category: Breast

Lab testing indicating the presence of breast cancer is known to put women at serious health risk, for obvious reasons. However, new findings suggest that this situation may also jeopardize the health of a woman's husband in many subtle ways.

A team of researchers from Ohio State University surveyed 32 men whose wives were undergoing treatment for breast cancer about how the problem was affecting them. The team also took blood test samples to check for immune function.

The results showed that the men whose wives were undergoing treatment experienced high levels of stress and fatigue that interfered with their daily functioning. They also frequently experienced headaches and abdominal pain. In addition, these men had signs of low levels of immune system function.

The researchers said their findings indicate that men whose wives are undergoing treatment for breast cancer face many health risks themselves. This means that doctors caring for women with this disease should remain attentive to the health of their partners as well. This could help many men avoid potentially serious health complications.