Post by Deanne Jenkyns on Oct 3, 2007 10:54:46 GMT 1
Pan-European Lung Cancer Awareness Survey
KEY FINDINGS
LOW AWARENESS
• 7 in 10 patients battling lung cancer in Europe never regarded the disease as a threat prior to learning of their condition
• 40% of people wrongly assume that breast cancer is most common cancer
• 50% of lung cancer patients live with symptoms for up to a month before seeking professional advice
• Nearly one-half of lung cancer patients admit to being diagnosed by chance during a routine doctor’s visit
• Only 42% of respondents agree that lung cancer is the most deadly form of cancer, despite the fact that most lung cancer patients die within 12 months of diagnosis
DISEASE BURDEN
• 85% of lung cancer patients on chemotherapy suffer from side-effects and a poor quality of life
• Only 14% of European lung cancer patients currently benefit from newer treatments, despite the widely-held public belief that patients should receive the best option in care
• 1 in 3 people surveyed know or have known of someone with lung cancer and 1 in 4 had a family member who has been touched by the disease
TREATMENT OPTIONS
• Lung cancer patients want a treatment that makes them feel better, as well as extends their lives
o When patients were asked to rank treatment attributes in order of importance, 91% of patients said feeling better was important and 90% of patients said extending life was important
• More than 90% of lung cancer patients desire a treatment to improve their general well-being and aid their ability to perform simple daily tasks
o After having been diagnosed with lung cancer, about 70% of patients choose to spend more time with their family
VOICING CONCERNS
“My father died of lung cancer. I believe that if he was better informed he may have taken treatment that would have given him more time.” – Public respondent, UK
“I believe that there ought to be much more done to educate people.” – Public respondent, Germany
“This survey has made me realise how little I really know.” – Public respondent, UK
“It is sad that research into military weapons receives more funding than research into lung cancer treatment.” – Public respondent, Germany
PATIENT EXPERIENCE
“I was shocked – I’d never smoked in my life.” Lung cancer patient, UK
“I just felt unwell. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I just felt unwell.” – Lung cancer patient, UK
“The greatest thing would be to be able to do all the physical activities I did before.” – Lung cancer patient, Italy
“The more activities you can do, the better you feel.” – Lung cancer patient, Spain
About the survey
The survey consisted of two arms: one involving the general public and another involving lung cancer patients only. The survey was conducted online amongst 1,270 members of the general public and 157 lung cancer patients in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK. Respondents to the general public survey were an even spread of genders and ages (all respondents were at least 30 years old) and were screened to ensure they were not suffering from and had never suffered previously from lung cancer. All patients surveyed were receiving treatment for their condition. There were over 1,400 men and women surveyed in total.
KEY FINDINGS
LOW AWARENESS
• 7 in 10 patients battling lung cancer in Europe never regarded the disease as a threat prior to learning of their condition
• 40% of people wrongly assume that breast cancer is most common cancer
• 50% of lung cancer patients live with symptoms for up to a month before seeking professional advice
• Nearly one-half of lung cancer patients admit to being diagnosed by chance during a routine doctor’s visit
• Only 42% of respondents agree that lung cancer is the most deadly form of cancer, despite the fact that most lung cancer patients die within 12 months of diagnosis
DISEASE BURDEN
• 85% of lung cancer patients on chemotherapy suffer from side-effects and a poor quality of life
• Only 14% of European lung cancer patients currently benefit from newer treatments, despite the widely-held public belief that patients should receive the best option in care
• 1 in 3 people surveyed know or have known of someone with lung cancer and 1 in 4 had a family member who has been touched by the disease
TREATMENT OPTIONS
• Lung cancer patients want a treatment that makes them feel better, as well as extends their lives
o When patients were asked to rank treatment attributes in order of importance, 91% of patients said feeling better was important and 90% of patients said extending life was important
• More than 90% of lung cancer patients desire a treatment to improve their general well-being and aid their ability to perform simple daily tasks
o After having been diagnosed with lung cancer, about 70% of patients choose to spend more time with their family
VOICING CONCERNS
“My father died of lung cancer. I believe that if he was better informed he may have taken treatment that would have given him more time.” – Public respondent, UK
“I believe that there ought to be much more done to educate people.” – Public respondent, Germany
“This survey has made me realise how little I really know.” – Public respondent, UK
“It is sad that research into military weapons receives more funding than research into lung cancer treatment.” – Public respondent, Germany
PATIENT EXPERIENCE
“I was shocked – I’d never smoked in my life.” Lung cancer patient, UK
“I just felt unwell. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I just felt unwell.” – Lung cancer patient, UK
“The greatest thing would be to be able to do all the physical activities I did before.” – Lung cancer patient, Italy
“The more activities you can do, the better you feel.” – Lung cancer patient, Spain
About the survey
The survey consisted of two arms: one involving the general public and another involving lung cancer patients only. The survey was conducted online amongst 1,270 members of the general public and 157 lung cancer patients in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK. Respondents to the general public survey were an even spread of genders and ages (all respondents were at least 30 years old) and were screened to ensure they were not suffering from and had never suffered previously from lung cancer. All patients surveyed were receiving treatment for their condition. There were over 1,400 men and women surveyed in total.
LC charity Ball