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More than 60 per cent of Indians report moderate to extreme worry about developing cancer in their lifetimes, a new study has revealed. According to the findings by GOQii – a tech-enabled preventive healthcare company, an overwhelming fear of cancer looms large over every demographic, age, gender, and socio-economic barrier.
Titled Living in Fear: The Hidden Epidemic of Cancer Anxiety Among the Public, the report notifies that at least 24 per cent of people panic over death as a result of cancer, underscoring its perception as a terminal illness.
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The report based on a comprehensive survey of over one thousand individuals and insights from a user base of over 5 million on GOQii's Smart Health Ecosystem app, says at least 70 per cent have not undergone any form of cancer screening in the past five years, despite awareness of its importance.
According to experts, these figures highlight a dangerous gap in proactive health management. A significant 33 per cent of respondents have also expressed deep concern over the crippling financial burden a cancer diagnosis could impose. The costs of treatment – spanning diagnostics, surgery, chemotherapy, and long-term medication – are often prohibitive, threatening to push families into financial ruin. "As longevity increases, particularly when accompanied by unhealthy living, the risk of cancer, unfortunately, rises as well. It has become imperative that we focus on promoting preventive measures and fostering healthy habits to address this growing concern," Dr. Anurag Agrawal, Head, Koita Center for Digital Health, Dean of BioSciences and Health Research, Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University Told Times Now.
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WebMD says anxiety is a normal reaction to cancer. According to experts, you may experience anxiety while undergoing a cancer screening test, waiting for test results, receiving a diagnosis, undergoing treatment, or anticipating a recurrence of the deadly disease.
Anxiety associated with cancer increases feelings of pain, interferes with your ability to sleep, leads to nausea and vomiting, and even interferes with your quality of life. If normal anxiety gives way to abnormally high distress, becomes incapacitating, or involves excessive fear or worry, it may warrant its own treatment.
"People are living in constant fear of not only the disease but also the potential financial and emotional toll it could take on them and their loved ones. We need to shift our focus to prevention, early detection, and providing people with the right tools and resources to manage both their health and their anxiety," said Vishal Gondal, Founder and CEO of GOQii.
If left untreated, anxiety may even be associated with lower survival rates from cancer.
Many fear death due to cancer
The report sheds light on the paralyzing fatality that haunts many Indians, with 24 per cent of respondents fearing cancer as an inevitable death sentence. According to experts, the fear gets exacerbated by the late detection of cancer, often due to inadequate screening and delayed diagnosis, leading to a perception of cancer as an incurable, terminal illness.
The report calls for a drastic overhaul of India’s healthcare infrastructure to prioritize early detection and ensure equitable access to cancer treatment, particularly in rural areas where healthcare resources are severely limited.
What are the main causes of cancer?
Environmental and lifestyle factors are at the heart of cancer and anxiety. Over half of the respondents say they are alarmed by the risks posed by:
- Pollution
- Radiation
- Environmental carcinogens
- Poor lifestyle choices, such as smoking and unhealthy diets