General public has misperceptions on lung cancer - survey

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 -- Only one in five people (22 per cent) disagree with the statement ‘generally, patients with lung cancer have caused their illness through their lifestyle choices and behaviours’.

This is according to a global, omnibus survey conducted by Ipsos MORI, sponsored by the Lung Ambition Alliance. 

Ipsos MORI interviewed 7,000 adults aged 18 and over, across seven countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States).

The study also showed the majority of people (59 per cent) were confident that in five years’ time, a significantly higher proportion of those diagnosed with lung cancer would be cured compared to now. 

But today, approximately only one in five people are alive, five years after initial diagnosis; despite recent progresses on the positive role of early detection and new treatments.

Moreover, almost nine in 10 people (87 per cent) are in favour of implementing a national programme in their country to increase the detection of lung cancer in early stages.

But the truth is, globally, many countries have not yet adopted lung cancer screening despite evidence suggesting that lung cancer screening saves lives.

A total of 40 per cent are diagnosed after their disease has spread beyond the lung, reducing the potential for treatment with curative intent.

Every 18 seconds, a life is lost to lung cancer. Last year alone, approximately 1.8 million people died from the disease.

-- BERNAMA