Nearly all Americans take at least one step to prevent cancer

CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 23, 2017 – Cancer prevention, an idea the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute have been preaching for decades seems to have taken hold, according to a new survey by the Mayo Clinic.

The annual Mayo Clinic National Health Checkup survey released last week shows that 95 percent of respondents take at least one preventive measure to avoid cancer. Started last year, health checkup survey aims to provide a quick pulse on consumer health opinions and behaviors at multiple times throughout the year.

Conducted by phone in July 2017, the survey involved 1,124 adults in the continental U.S. This year’s results revealed that 75 percent of Americans avoid smoking, and 74 percent limit alcohol consumption, while 72 percent maintain a healthy diet, and women are significantly more likely than men to do all three.

The survey also revealed how widespread the effects of cancer are with 62 percent of respondents saying they have either experienced cancer or know a loved one who has. While 61 percent said that they are very or somewhat concerned about developing cancer in their lifetime, 78 percent expect see a cure for cancer with 57 percent believing cancer will be cured within the next 20 years.

One area of concern revealed by the survey is that faced with certain cancer symptoms cost and insurance coverage were reasons for delaying seeking medical care, with 46 percent naming cost or insurance affecting their decision to see a healthcare provider compared to 41 percent who named time and ability to schedule and attend appointments as an obstacle. The financial concerns were higher in Hispanics at 64 percent, millennial at 59 percent and African-Americans at 57 percent.

For more information about the survey and its findings go to healthcheckup.mayoclinic.org.