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Is it time to change the stereotype of cancer: the expert view

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Abstract

Objectives

Negative public attitudes towards cancer may contribute to delays in presentation and present barriers to providing quality care. This study explored the views of cancer experts regarding the content of public health messages to improve public attitudes to cancer.

Methods

Twenty-one healthcare professionals (HCPs) from a range of backgrounds took part took part in interviews. Interview transcripts were evaluated using thematic analysis focusing on the HCPs views of the prevailing negative stereotype of cancer patients and their recommendations for cancer awareness campaigns that could redress this view.

Results

HCPs contrasted the progress that had been made in the effective management of cancer with popular stereotypes and media representations. Information quality and supply were identified as barriers to changing the cancer stereotype held by the public.

Conclusions

HCPs believe there is a need for more information about cancer in the public domain and it should focus on providing more balanced messages that include information about the improvements that have been achieved in preventing and treating cancer.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by Cancer Research UK.

Conflict of interest

None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Alice E. Simon, Jane Wardle & Anne Miles

Authors
  1. Alice E. Simon
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  2. Jane Wardle
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  3. Anne Miles
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alice E. Simon.

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Simon, A.E., Wardle, J. & Miles, A. Is it time to change the stereotype of cancer: the expert view. Cancer Causes Control 22, 135–140 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9683-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9683-6

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