Health state vital

SURVIVING cancer is heavily influenced by a patient’s overall state of health, new research showed yesterday. A study found the worse were patients’ non-cancer ailments, or comorbidities, the less survival chances they had.

Poor health also made it more likely that a cancer would recur.

The US researchers said recording comorbidity information could improve cancer prognosis and treatment decisions. At present, trial data used by cancer specialists tends to focus on tumour size and aggressiveness while ignoring information about other medical conditions.