According to a survey by the National Cancer Institute, the French think they are well informed about cancer but minimize the risks associated with lifestyle.
- The INCa Cancer Barometer is published every five years.
- It shows how the French perceive cancer and act in the face of the disease.
- The survey is conducted among 5,000 people aged 15 to 85.
A seventh of French people believe they have solid information on cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute (INCa), which reveals this Monday, January 30, its Cancer Barometer 2021, in partnership with Santé Publique France. However, despite this figure, part of the population seems to completely underestimate the link between tobacco, alcohol and cancer, even though they are the first and second cause of cancer in France. In fact, 23% of respondents believe that drinking a little wine reduces the risk of cancer.
Alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarettes… what do the French think?
Among the reasons behind this result, there is in particular the proliferation of “conflicting messages”explains to franceinfo oncologist Suzette Delaloge, director of the personalized cancer prevention program at the Gustave Roussy Institute. “Alcohol in very small quantities can be a little protective on certain cardiovascular risks, but not at all on cancer. On the contrary, it increases the risks of many cancers”she adds.
According to the Barometer, more than 8 out of 10 people say that smoking tobacco certainly causes the appearance of cancer, a figure that has increased compared to 2015. On the other hand, more than half of French people are convinced that playing sports helps to cleanse his lungs of the harmful effects of tobacco (which is not true). This shows a “need to be safe”to “to reassure”indicates to France Inter the president of the National Cancer Institute, Norbert Ifrah.
Respondents were also asked to comment on the subject of electronic cigarettes: three quarters of respondents consider it harmful to health. More than half of them even think that it is more harmful than conventional cigarettes. The National Cancer Institute also highlights the fact that 10% of vapers surveyed say they have never smoked before starting the electronic cigarette.
Skin cancer: overestimation of heredity compared to UV
Another downside concerns skin cancer: the French greatly underestimate the impact of excessive exposure to the sun or artificial UV rays on the chances of developing cancer over time. However, those questioned overestimate the importance of heredity in relation to cancer, whereas only 10% of cancers have a genetic origin.
To help the public distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to cancer, Suzette Delaloge stresses the need to inform about the risks. For the oncologist, the challenge is “to create new health professionals more dedicated to the prevention of cancers or other diseases”. Especially since good prevention can be particularly effective when we know that almost half of cancers can be avoided because they are linked to lifestyles. Moreover, knowledge about food is progressing: messages on the health risks associated with excessive consumption of red meat or cold cuts and on the benefits of fruit and vegetables are better known. Good news since, each year, 19,000 cancers are attributed to an unbalanced diet.