A new survey conducted in the United Kingdom found two-thirds of the public say they are very or somewhat worried about being told they have cancer—a higher percentage than for any other medical condition, including dementia and having a heart attack—according to polling released today.
The polling, carried out among 2,000 adults living in the UK by Public First on behalf of the University of Cambridge, highlights the concerns that people have over a cancer diagnosis. It suggests that late diagnosis is the biggest concern in relation to a cancer diagnosis (70%), followed by the impact on one’s family and those around them (52%).
When asked which transformative technologic development they would like to see in the future—including eradicating diseases such as malaria, self-driving cars becoming commonplace, and genetically engineered crops enabling us to end famine—55% of respondents chose “being able to detect and treat cancer early enough so that no one dies of the disease.” Only eliminating poverty came anywhere close to eliciting a similar response, with 23% of respondents ranking this answer.
“Cancer affects one in two of us and understandably induces fear in patients and their families,” said Richard Gilbertson, FRS, FMedSci, FRCP, Director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre at the University and Research Lead for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. "People are worried that treatments won’t work, or that the side effects will be terrible, but also what their diagnosis will mean to their family.”
When asked what would concern them most about receiving a cancer diagnosis, the most commonly selected worry among respondents was that the cancer would be detected too late to treat (70%). Fifty-two percent of respondents were concerned about the impact on their family or those around them, 41% were concerned about getting access to the right treatment, and 36% worried about the side effects of treatments.
When presented with a number of undesirable future events, a cancer diagnosis was second only to the death of a close relative in terms of being most worrying (64% vs 72%)—higher than nuclear war (56%), terrorism (53%), and being a victim of crime (52%). Surprisingly, older age groups were significantly less likely to say they were “very worried” about cancer compared to younger age groups—14% of those aged over 65 compared to 26% of 18- to 24-year-olds and 29% of 25- to 34-year-olds.
Asked what would make them less afraid of being diagnosed with cancer, 61% replied, “Knowing that the form of cancer I have is treatable.” Highlighting once again the importance of early detection, over half of respondents (51%) said, “Knowing we are better at catching cancer early enough to treat.”
“Outcomes can be completely transformed—[meaning] better survival and less invasive treatments—if the cancer is diagnosed early enough,” said Rebecca Fitzgerald, MD, FMedSci, Director of the Li Ka Shing Early Cancer Institute at the University of Cambridge. “That’s why a lot of our focus now is on understanding cancer at its very earliest stage—years before an individual will develop any symptoms. That way, it may even be possible to prevent the disease in the first place, or at least catch it when it can be treated easily.”
Knowing that institutions and organizations are researching how we prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer is reassuring, the poll suggests. A third of respondents (32%) said this would make them less afraid of a cancer diagnosis. Forty-three percent of respondents believe cancer research at universities will have a big impact on reducing deaths from cancer.
The public were also asked their views on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve diagnosis and treatment of cancer. An overwhelming majority were in favor of its application, with just 8% saying we shouldn’t use AI for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Fifty-five percent thought it was acceptable to use AI to speed up research into new treatments, 47% to help a doctor diagnose their cancer, and 41% to help their doctor decide which treatment would work best.
