why are so many people ignorant to cancer?

Question

hi my name is trevor I have a few relatives who have had cancer a couple have died from it its just so annoying of there ignorance

Answer 1

People are not educated enough on the subject.

Answer 2

I am not ignorant if it makes you feel any better- though my family seem to be. Cancer runs in my dads family yet he continues to live off fry-ups, take no excercise and doesnt socialise. He is in his 60s, his parents died of cancer when they were in their 60s.
My mother used to smoke, she gave it up but her husband smokes 20 plus a day and doesnt excercise. He has smoked for at least 25 years. He doesnt worry about cancer.
My sister takes weekly sunbeds when the sun isnt shining otherwise shes out there with her factor 4. She is 21 and has been doing this since she was 10.

I am paranoid about getting cancer. I do not go out in the sun without factor 15 at least on- usually factor 25. I eat 10 portions of vegetables a day, and 5 portions of fruit, I dont drink fruit juice I eat them so I can ensure I get the vitamins. I excercise 2 or 3 times a week aerobic tyoe stuff for atleast an hou and in addition ensure I walk 20 mins -fast- a day. I also take vitamins and mineral tablets as well as omega 3 oils and my down fall? aside from the genes is my sleep- I cant sleep!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Dearest Trevor,
There is a book with all the answers to your questions about cancer.
Read 'The China Study' by T. Colin Campbell.
(Available on Amazon)
It not only details prevention and useful advice for different types, it extensively reports WHY we are so misinformed. Is it the government? Is it the multibillion dollar food industries? Is it the AMA?
The answers are almost horrifying...

Answer 4

Because just the word fills the mind with images of terror. Yes it might be stupid and when a person is informed it seems ridiculous but there is enough mundane grief in the world without looking for more. and yes cancer does not have to be a killer if it is caught in time but how many people think Oh I must go and get screened tomorrow.
For the record my father died of lung cancer one day he was here and a couple of weeks he was gone. I had a relatively harmonious relationship with my dad but I did not get the urge to go and learn everything to do with cancer - I am sorry if my attitude offends or dismays you but there you have it.

Answer 5

Hi Trevor,
I have had cancer for two years and am undergoing at present my second round of chemo.
I find it particularly hard because the type of cancer I had has left me with a facial disfigurement, therefore hard to hide.
People stare at me like I am about to kill them, or they stare out of curiousity. Either way, sometimes I feel like wearing a placard saying "yes I have cancer - no need to stare - its not catching".
There is a LOT of ignorant people out there, and not just about cancer.
Love to all on chemo. x x x x .

Answer 6

There are more than 100 types of cancers; any part of the body can be affected.
In 2005, 7.6 million people died of cancer - 13% of the 58 million deaths worldwide.
More than 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low and middle income countries.
Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill men are (in order of frequency): lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and oesophagus
Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill women are (in the order of frequency): breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and cervical
Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world.
One fifth of all cancers worldwide are caused by a chronic infection, for example human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer and hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver cancer.
A third of cancers could be cured if detected early and treated adequately.
All patients in need of pain relief could be helped if current knowledge about pain control and palliative care were applied.
40% of cancer could be prevented, mainly by not using tobacco, having a healthy diet, being physically active and preventing infections that may cause cancer.

Answer 7

Surely no one is ignorant to cancer. We all know what it is generally speaking and I should think nearly everyone on here knows someone who died from cancer. My Grandmother and Grandfather died from lung cancer so it isn't really a new term to me. The two biggest killers are cancer and heart attacks so I seriously doubt that there are many people who are ignorant about either of these. Most who smoke know the dangers and so do those who eat bad foods. It's not all about ignorance, it's sometimes about not caring when or how you die. With all the warnings on cigarette packets I would think it impossible not to know they cause cancer unless you are illiterate, even then you would have daily comments from non smokers telling you that you will get cancer.

Answer 8

There is not enough information in your question.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of types of cancer. No cancer is the same. Cancer is a big problem, because treatments and causes are not all agreed upon. Cancer is complex. There are many theories on why cancer happens, but no one is certain of why. Cancer has no definite cure.

On this level, we are ALL ignorant of cancer, don't you think?

Answer 9

I think its because they want to be. A lot of it has to do with fear after all everybody hates the thought of dieing. Only if people take cancer as serious as it is many lives would me saved. Sometimes just seeing other peoples ignorance to cancer makes you a much wiser person.

Answer 10

Check out www.cancer.org. The American Cancer Society is a great organization that is working to raise awareness about cancer and cancer prevention. It has really helped me a lot.

Answer 11

i was only saying this today, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in december,she has now been given the all clear,but still has 15 sessions of radiotherapy to go through,and has to take tamoxifen for the next 5 yrs, i've got to admit i was one of these ignorant people until my mum was diagnosed,i was really ignorant to how many lives cancer affects,but now we have rang the cancer helpline and got a collection box to put in my mums b&b,hopefully we will raise a lot of money,hospitals need money for MRI scans etc,these scans are only offered to a minority of people because they cost a lot of money,if we could at least diagnose the cancer early then many lives could be saved,i truly understand what you are saying,but think back to before you lost anybody to this nasty disease,were you ignorant too? its a very difficult time watching an independant relative become so frail,(i also lost my mother in law,who had 5 brain tumours,from the time of diagnosis to passing away, she had 8wks) people need to be more aware,NEVER say "it wont happen to us" because you never know when its going to grab you and pull you down,i used to think like this,and i admit it was by thinking these words,now i know better,and will go out of my way,and help as much as i can,if i can save at least 1 life.i totally agree with you!