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What factors do cancer patients believe contribute to the development of their cancer? (New South Wales, Australia)

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Abstract

Objective

To analyze Australian cancer patients’ beliefs about factors contributing to the development of their cancer.

Methods

As part of a case–control study (The Cancer Council NSW Cancer, Lifestyle and Evaluation of Risk Study), a total of 2,857 cancer patients (open to all types of cancer) were surveyed and via an open-ended question, were asked to specify factors they think contributed to the development of their cancer. Qualitative analysis and categorical techniques were used to analyze the data.

Results

About half, 53%, of patients specified at least one contributing factor. The odds of a person specifying a contributing factor increased with time period since diagnosis (p = 0.0006). Patients most frequently specified, respectively: “Stress” (15.4%), “Genetics/hereditary” (10.9%) and “Smoking” (6.2%). Among factors specified the largest proportion (24.1%) was perceived to be “Non-modifiable.”

Conclusion

Cancer patients specified a broad range of factors and agents to which their disease may be attributed. Some of these were poorly correlated with epidemiological rankings of attributable risk factors. The role of psychosocial and genetic factors was overstated. Misconceptions regarding the causes of cancer are a key consideration of health professionals when devising communication strategies around cancer prevention.

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Acknowledgments

Karen Canfell, Michael Revius, Christina Christou, Karen Allison and the Cancer Council NSW CLEAR Study team for their work in the formulation, implementation and data collation of the questionnaire, Sam Egger for advice on statistical analyses and Kate Christian for coordinating the various parties concerned with this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo, Australia

    Simon J. Willcox

  2. School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Simon J. Willcox

  3. Cancer Control Program, South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Public Health Unit, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia

    Bernard W. Stewart

  4. School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Bernard W. Stewart

  5. Cancer Council NSW, 153 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia

    Freddy Sitas

  6. School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Freddy Sitas

  7. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Freddy Sitas

Authors
  1. Simon J. Willcox
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  2. Bernard W. Stewart
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  3. Freddy Sitas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Freddy Sitas.

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Willcox, S.J., Stewart, B.W. & Sitas, F. What factors do cancer patients believe contribute to the development of their cancer? (New South Wales, Australia). Cancer Causes Control 22, 1503–1511 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9824-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9824-6

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