A global survey into people’s experiences, views, and behaviours around cancer has revealed an "unacceptable" divide when it comes to awareness of the disease.
The survey, commissioned by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) for today’s 20th anniversary of World Cancer Day (4 February 2020), has shown that people from lower-income households in the countries surveyed are less likely to recognise cancer risk factors than those from higher-income households.
Conducted by Ipsos, the first multi-country public survey on cancer perceptions in a decade includes responses from more than 15,000 adults across 20 countries.
It found that there is generally a high level of cancer awareness, with 63% understanding that tobacco use is a risk factor and 54% agreeing that exposure to harmful UV rays is another recognised risk.
Least known factors that can increase a person’s risk of cancer were a lack of exercise (28%), exposure to certain viruses or bacteria (28%) and being overweight (29%).
However, irrespective of where people live in the world, those surveyed with a lower education and those on lower incomes are less aware of the main risk factors associated with cancer and are less likely to take the steps needed to reduce their cancer risk than those from a high income household or with a university education.
Eight-four per cent of those surveyed believe that governments should take action in relation to cancer, while about one third say governments should prioritise improving the affordability of cancer services.
Dr Cary Adams, CEO for Union for International Cancer Control, said: “It is unacceptable that millions of people have a greater chance of developing cancer in their lifetime, because they are simply not aware of the cancer risks to avoid and the healthy behaviours to adopt – information that many of us take for granted. And this is true around the world.”
HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, UICC President, added: “To tackle the global cancer burden now and for the future, governments and decision makers across the international cancer community must come together to ensure that everyone is afforded every opportunity to take control over their cancer risk – no matter their education or income level.”
UICC is calling for all governments to: prioritise cancer awareness raising and prevention through progressive health policies and education; ensure the public has up-to-date information on cancer risks and cancer prevention, and that it is delivered in an accessible way to people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds; and to invest in national cancer control planning and establish population-based registries to ensure the most effective resource allocation that benefits all groups.
International Public Opinion Survey on Cancer 2020 is available at: worldcancerday.org
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