Lower-paid ‘more fatalistic’ about cancer

WORKERS in lower-paid jobs are pessimistic about the benefits of diagnosing cancer early and more scared than well-off people to consult a doctor when they experience worrying symptoms.

The study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, found that those from lower socio-economic backgrounds were more fatalistic about cancer. The researchers interviewed more than 2,000 British adults and analysed their attitudes towards early detection and seeing a doctor about worrying symptoms.

Previous research has shown that people from more deprived backgrounds have poorer survival rates from cancer than more affluent groups.

Most questioned in the latest study were realistic about cancer survival, believing that half of those diagnosed with cancer survive their disease for at least five years.

Dr Rebecca Beeken,, said: “This study shows that people with lower socio-economic status may think it is less worthwhile to detect cancer early because they are more fatalistic about the outcome. These differences in the way people perceive cancer could lead to inequalities in cancer survival.”