The French and Cancer: Known but Neglected Risk Factors
While tobacco use is the leading cause of cancer for the French (68%) and Moroccans (81%), Moroccans are more aware of its dangers, according to the Harris Interactive survey "Cancer: Fears, Prejudices and Preconceived Ideas" conducted for the League on the occasion of World Cancer Day on Monday, February 4, 2013.
As a founding member of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and the Alliance of African and Mediterranean Francophone Leagues Against Cancer (Aliam), the League wanted to understand through this survey what are the "differences" and the convergences between the perception of the French and that of another French-speaking country: Morocco."
In France, young people appear to be more aware of the dangers of tobacco (82% of 18-24 year olds) but smoke much more than Moroccans. The frequency of tobacco is 18% among Moroccans over the age of 15 compared to 30% in France, notes the League according to 2012 statistics from the World Health Organization.
Alcohol, which is the second most important risk factor in Morocco, is only fifth in France, where denial seems to persist.
For the League, this difference points to the French shortcomings in terms of prevention.
Cancer is scary and spontaneously evokes "disease" and "death" in both countries, but the notion of "danger to be avoided" is clearly visible to Moroccans while the French are more in the curative (care, chemo, suffering...) than avoidance.
Two new risk factors are also emerging: pollution (38% of French, 29% of Moroccans), genetics (37% of French, 23% of Moroccans).
"The results show that today, especially the French, prefer to see uncertain risk factors such as pollution than proven risks (tobacco, alcohol) because it requires lifestyle changes," according to Jacqueline Godet, President League.
Cancer is responsible for one in eight deaths worldwide. Each year, more than 12 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed and 7.6 million people die from it. Without appropriate measures, the number of new cases could reach 26 million by 2030, with a sharper increase in low- and middle-income countries, the league says.
Today in France, nearly 60% of cancers are cured, she notes. And if therapeutic advances have greatly improved the chances of recovery, today beating cancer also means better prevention, to prevent it from appearing.
Survey conducted by Harris Interactive in France, online from 25 to 28 January 2013 among a representative sample of 1,870 people aged 18 and over, and in Morocco, by telephone at the home of respondents from 29 to 31 January among 504 individuals representative population aged 18 and over. Quota method
As a founding member of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and the Alliance of African and Mediterranean Francophone Leagues Against Cancer (Aliam), the League wanted to understand through this survey what are the "differences" and the convergences between the perception of the French and that of another French-speaking country: Morocco."
In France, young people appear to be more aware of the dangers of tobacco (82% of 18-24 year olds) but smoke much more than Moroccans. The frequency of tobacco is 18% among Moroccans over the age of 15 compared to 30% in France, notes the League according to 2012 statistics from the World Health Organization.
Alcohol, which is the second most important risk factor in Morocco, is only fifth in France, where denial seems to persist.
For the League, this difference points to the French shortcomings in terms of prevention.
Cancer is scary and spontaneously evokes "disease" and "death" in both countries, but the notion of "danger to be avoided" is clearly visible to Moroccans while the French are more in the curative (care, chemo, suffering...) than avoidance.
Two new risk factors are also emerging: pollution (38% of French, 29% of Moroccans), genetics (37% of French, 23% of Moroccans).
"The results show that today, especially the French, prefer to see uncertain risk factors such as pollution than proven risks (tobacco, alcohol) because it requires lifestyle changes," according to Jacqueline Godet, President League.
Cancer is responsible for one in eight deaths worldwide. Each year, more than 12 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed and 7.6 million people die from it. Without appropriate measures, the number of new cases could reach 26 million by 2030, with a sharper increase in low- and middle-income countries, the league says.
Today in France, nearly 60% of cancers are cured, she notes. And if therapeutic advances have greatly improved the chances of recovery, today beating cancer also means better prevention, to prevent it from appearing.
Survey conducted by Harris Interactive in France, online from 25 to 28 January 2013 among a representative sample of 1,870 people aged 18 and over, and in Morocco, by telephone at the home of respondents from 29 to 31 January among 504 individuals representative population aged 18 and over. Quota method