Fear of cancer and older people's beliefs about cancer treatment in Poland

Abstract

Throughout Europe and the United States, more than 60% of all cancer incidents occur in older people. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the level of fear people have regarding cancer and older people's beliefs about cancer pain, cancer treatment, and the curability of cancer. We conducted a survey in 2012, in which the sample was comprised of 910 adult residents of Wroclaw, Poland, to ascertain the beliefs people have about cancer and the degree of fear people have with respect to cancer. The majority of the respondents reported having a high level of fear, and this level of fear increased with age. Moreover, the oldest people (65 years and above) expressed fatalistic beliefs with respect to cancer. Our observations may guide health promotion campaigns and cancer prevention programs.

Symptom Structure of Depression in Older Adults on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: A Network Analysis

“…Fear and hopelessness about the future also emerged as symptoms of more importance in the network. A feeling of fear is common in older adults [ 47 , 48 ]. Fear in older people is mostly concerning fear of physical and cognitive decline, dependency, and decreased income.…”

Can popular films instil carcinophobia? Images of cancer in popular Polish cinema

“…The mortality rate among the patients portrayed in Polish cinema is also at odds with reality as it is much higher than in reality: in spite of the progress in the treatment of cancer in all the films cancer was explicitly associated with death ( 32 , 33 , 35 – 37 ). Thus, taking under consideration the scale of reception of such Polish cancer films as: Life, Above All , Chemo , Life Must Go On and These Daughters of Mine one can assume that they can reinforce the stereotype of cancer as an incurable and lethal disease ( 8 , 14 , 19 ). This image of cancer as terminal illness is further reinforced by the suggestion that the most common symptom of cancer is pain, usually present in the final stage of disease.…”

“…as well as social and cultural concepts about the body, health, and illness (6). While lay beliefs can positively influence health-related behaviours, including seeking biomedical treatment, they can also affect people's pessimistic and fatalistic ideas about cancer and its course (7)(8)(9), as well as their opinions about the accuracy and value of cancer screening (10,11), and discourage the sick from contacting medical professionals.…”

“…Research shows that, while culture plays an important role in shaping people’s lay beliefs regarding cancer, such ideas may lead to needless worrying or may even instil carcinophobia, i.e., a chronic fear related to cancer that manifests itself through feelings of sadness, anxiety, panic, and distress of developing cancer that can, in turn, inhibit individuals from engaging in screening tests, prevention behaviours, and sound treatment decisions ( 24 – 26 ). For example, it was demonstrated that fatalistic beliefs about cancer result in greater fear of cancer and can cultivate cancer stigma ( 8 , 9 , 26 ). Similarly, Synowiec-Piłat showed that the despondent image of Polish oncology reinforces people’s belief in the curability of cancer and delayed reporting of the disease to a physician ( 10 ).…”