Childhood cancer survivors are less likely to get married, a study has shown.

According to findings in the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention journal, due to the long-term effects of cancer treatment, childhood sufferers are less likely to wed.

Survivors are 20 to 25 per cent more likely to never marry, compared with siblings and the general population, the researchers found.

"Many childhood cancer survivors still struggle to fully participate in our society because of the lasting cognitive and physical effects of their past cancer therapy," said lead researcher Nina Kadan-Lottick, assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine.

The researchers looked at more than 10,000 childhood cancer survivors, who are now adults, treated at 26 institutions around the United States.

They then recorded their marital status, as single, divorced or married.

"Our study pinpointed what aspects of the survivor experience likely contribute to altered marriage patterns: short stature, poor physical functioning and cognitive problems," said Ms Kadan-Lottick.

"These conditions are known to be associated with certain chemotherapy and radiation exposures."

Results showed that an estimated 42 per cent of survivors were married, 7.3 per cent were separated or divorced and 46 per cent were never married.

The researchers found those who had undergone cranial radiation therapy were those most associated with not getting married.

"While it can be debated whether marriage is a desirable outcome, marriage is generally an expected developmental goal in our society to the extent that most U.S. adults are married by the age of 30. Our results suggest that survivors of childhood cancer need ongoing support even as they enter adulthood," Ms Kadan-Lottick concluded.

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