Research indicates delayed diagnosis of cancer is significant issue

New Delhi: A public poll in the UK reveals that late cancer diagnosis, often too late for effective treatment, is the top concern for about 70 percent of people.

The survey, conducted by a team from the University of Cambridge with 2,000 participants, found that two-thirds of respondents were most worried about potentially having cancer. This concern surpassed fears of other major issues, including dementia, terrorism, crime, and nuclear war. The findings highlight the significant anxiety surrounding cancer detection compared to other serious health and safety concerns.

About 70 per cent said that late diagnosis of cancer is the biggest worry, followed by the impact on one’s family and the ones in surroundings (52 per cent), getting access to the right treatment (41 per cent), and side effects of the treatment (36 per cent).

"People are worried that treatments won’t work or that the side-effects will be terrible, but also what their diagnosis will mean to their family,” said Professor Richard Gillbertson, Director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre at the University.

The rein that cancer holds is unimaginable, in fact when respondents were asked what technological development they would like to see in the future, ranging from eradicating famine to self-driving cars, 55 per cent said unanimously that they would like to be able to detect and treat cancer early enough so that no-one dies, followed by eradicating poverty (23 per cent).

The public has given overwhelming support for AI and doctors to collaborate in the treatment process, with only 8 per cent disagreeing. The good news is that this has already become a reality which will alleviate fears and ensure accuracy, save costs and patients.