Many People Believe Cancer Is Unpreventable
Forty-seven percent of U.S. residents believe they have little or no control in reducing their risk of cancer, according to a survey commissioned by the American Cancer Society, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. Opinion Research Corporation conducted the survey of 1,019 U.S. residents in December 2005.
ACS officials noted that many of the most common cancers can be prevented or treated successfully through early detection.
ACS Vice President Elmer Huerta said that the survey showed people "don't know the basic facts" about cancer prevention.
However, Karen Glanz, a health psychologist at Emory University, said the survey results have "a lot to do with the way the question was asked," adding that some of the respondents' beliefs could be reasonable.
The survey also found that 65% of people are very or somewhat concerned that they will get cancer. About 70% of people ages 35 to 54 were very or somewhat concerned, compared with 62% of people ages 55 to 64, 55% of people ages 65 to 75, and 47% of people 75 and older (Stobbe, AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/19).