Cancer risk 'not changing habits'
May 6, 2009 - 0:0
Two thirds of people have not changed their diet or lifestyle to reduce the risk of cancer, a survey for the BBC's Newsnight program has found.
This is despite evidence and public health campaigns that highlight diet and lifestyle as a cause of between a third to a half of all cancers.The poll of 1,000 adults found over a third said that they tried to ignore cancer or hardly ever think about it.
One cancer expert said new ways were needed to convey health messages.
The poll also asked people whether or not they felt they had been told enough about cancer.
A third felt they did not have enough information about the symptoms of the most common forms of cancer, while only 45% said they had enough information on all of the four most common forms - breast, prostate, lung and bowel.
Women were more likely to feel they had enough information, with 48% saying they knew enough about cancer symptoms.
Men are almost twice as likely as women to bury their heads in the sand with 22% “hardly ever” thinking about cancer.
And a quarter of 18-24 year olds also rarely thought about the disease.
When asked about the government's actions, most 60% - did think the government has provided enough clear advice about ways to change their diet and lifestyle to reduce the risk of cancer.
And the majority praised UK cancer treatment. Two thirds said it was “fairly good” while 13% said it was excellent.