RTL Today – Cancer: Night sweats or a fever can be a symptom

That’s what the results of a new survey conducted by Ilres for the Cancer Foundation suggest. About a third of respondents were unable to automatically name symptoms of cancer. In the previous survey, going back five years, this was the case for only a fifth of the respondents.

But the less informed people are, the less inclined they are to go to the doctor. In addition, more than half of the participants were not aware that night sweats or unexplained bouts of fever could indicate cancer. In general, people should get screenings when something goes wrong as usual, according to Dr. Carol Bauer, chair of the board of directors of the Cancer Foundation.

Only a third of the participants were informed of the effectiveness of the papillomavirus vaccine

There is also a distinct lack of awareness of cervical cancer. Only 27% of those questioned consider the papillomavirus vaccine an effective way to prevent cancer. Since the beginning of this year, this vaccine has been recommended for all boys and girls, ages 9 to 14. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common cause of cervical cancer, and it is the fourth most common type of cancer in women.

Almost half of the people interviewed for this survey are of the opinion that cancer is hereditary, while genetic factors are not decisive. Environmental factors tend to be seen as more harmful to respondents than individual behavior. And about 20% of those surveyed were not aware of the negative health consequences of hookah smoking.

According to the Cancer Foundation, the positive thing, on the other hand, is that people can now better assess the risks associated with alcohol consumption and that 93% of patients will feel like they are in safe hands during their cancer treatment.