|
Survey: Many believe cancer myths
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-28 14:15
More than 40 percent of Americans surveyed in a study falsely believed
surgery can allow cancer cells to spread through the body, researchers said
Monday. And up to a quarter believed there is a drug industry plot to cover up a
cure for cancer.
The survey, published in the journal Cancer, may mean patients with cancer
may fail to get treatment or may fail to stick with it, the researchers said.
The telephone survey of 957 adults was designed to represent the general U.S.
population, said the researchers, led by Dr. Ted Gansler of the American Cancer
Society.
"The most prevalent misconception, 'Treating cancer with surgery can cause it
to spread throughout the body,' was endorsed as true by 41 percent of the
respondents," the researchers wrote in their report.
"The second most prevalent misconception, 'The medical industry is
withholding a cure for cancer from the public in order to increase profits,' was
identified as true by 27 percent."
But most people -- 68 percent -- correctly rejected the idea that pain
medications are ineffective against cancer pain and 89 percent knew it takes
more than a positive attitude to treat cancer.
Eighty-seven percent knew there were effective treatments for cancer. More
than 60 percent of cancer patients are still alive 5 years later.
The results show that the American public is significantly ill-informed about
cancer, and that most people overestimate how much they know about the disease,
the researchers said.
Only 25 percent of those surveyed correctly identified all five
misconceptions as false.
The survey fits in with others recently done about what people know about
cancer.
People who were 65 or older, of non-white race and those who admitted they
knew little about cancer were more likely to get the answers wrong, the
researchers said.
The findings may help explain why some groups are more likely to die of
cancer than others, the researchers said. People who get early screening and
prompt treatment for their cancer are more likely to survive.
|
 | | | Demi Moore: conquer aging with baby | | |  | | | Lin Chih-ling injured in horse fall | | |  | | | Jolie adopts Ethiopian AIDS orphan | | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top Life
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
