OTHER RESULTS FROM THE NATIONAL CANCER SURVEY OF 4,000 CARP MEMBERS

Low awareness levels for cancer statistics

Survey participants were also asked questions about their knowledge of key cancer statistics. Results indicated that participants underestimated the extent and impact of cancer: • Only 13% correctly identified lung cancer as the most diagnosed cancer in Canada and just one in four correctly said lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths • Only 14% correctly said cancer is the leading cause of

death in Canada • Just 19% of respondents correctly answered that one out of every two Canadians can expect to get cancer in their lifetime. Almost half thought it was one in five • Only 3% said correctly an 80% increase in cancer cases is expected from 2003 to 2028. Most expected the increase would be much lower However, on several other cancer-related questions, respondents fared much better. Half correctly said the new type of cancer treatment called immunotherapy refers to, “A drug that harnesses the body’s own immune system to detect and kill the cancer cells.”

Almost all respondents knew that melanoma is a type of skin cancer and are familiar with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation as types of cancer treatments.

Respondents expressed an interest in learning more about cancer, with one person saying that they are “look[ing] forward to seeing more surveys emphasizing the importance of knowledge.”

“Wow, I thought I knew the answers to the first set of questions but only got one right! Seems we need more exposure to stats.”

Almost half of cancer patients wait more than a month to get treatments started

The wait time for treatment was concerning. “Cancer is very scary,” according to one respondent, who believes that “no one once diagnosed should have to wait even a day for treatment.”

Canadian cancer patients generally enthusiastic about clinical trials

Clinical trials are an important part of the development of new treatments, including those for cancer. Because they are usually financed by the company that is developing the new treatment, they allow patients who qualify to access new therapies, usually without charge and before they are more widely available.

Four out of five CARP members in the survey said they would agree to participating in a clinical trial. Of the respondents who said they had already participated in a clinical trial, most said it was a positive experience.

“It’s the wait time and not knowing what options you have because of the wait time that wears a family down.”