Cancer scares the Germans the most

Cancer scares people the most: DAK study: Especially women and younger people fear tumors

Cancer makes people in Germany the most afraid. Although severe heart disease is by far the most common cause of death, malignant tumors are much more feared. According to a recent DAK study, 73 percent of Germans are afraid of cancer. But only every second man uses the free early detection at the doctor.

In the representative study, the Forsa Institute * surveyed 3,015 men and women for the health insurance company DAK. More than one in two (53 percent) is afraid of a serious injury. After that stroke (52 percent), Alzheimer's or dementia (50 percent) and heart attack (45 percent) are called. 30 percent of respondents are afraid of mental illness, followed by severe lung disease (26 percent) and diabetes (20 percent).

Health care: Better sport than a doctor check
„Concern for women is much more pronounced than for men“, says DAK expert Dr. Christina Sewekov. That applies to cancer as well as to accidents or strokes. „Women have a different feeling for their body, which also has a positive effect on health care.“ According to the study, 74 percent of women go to cancer screening. For men it is only 46 percent. To prevent diseases, 80 percent of the respondents exercise regularly. Low alcohol consumption and healthy nutrition are mentioned almost as often.

According to the DAK survey, the fear of illness varies greatly with age. For example, at the age of 81 percent, 14 to 29-year-olds are the most fearful of cancer. Also, the concern about accidents or mental illness is greater in younger people than in older people. For the respondents over the age of 60, the fear of cancer (63 percent) and of Alzheimer's or dementia (59 percent) is almost the same.

Enlightenment in teens begin
„If young people are very afraid of cancer, then this feeling should be used more than before for health care“, emphasizes DAK expert Dr. Christina Sewekov. „We start with prevention work for adolescents and young adults, for example, pointing out the benefits of early detection and a healthy lifestyle.“ According to the DAK study, 45 percent of 14- to 29-year-olds rate their present state of health as „very well. For older respondents over the age of 60, the figure is only 17 percent.

According to the legal provisions, women over the age of 20 can take advantage of free early cancer screening every year. The genital organs are examined. Women over the age of 30 should also have their breast examined. Men over the age of 45 should have their rectum, prostate and genital organs examined annually.

The Germans are the most afraid of these diseases:
1st cancer (73 percent)
2. Accident with injuries (53 percent)
3. Stroke (52 percent)
4. Alzheimer's / dementia (50 percent)
5. Heart attack (45 percent)
6. Herniated disc (36 percent)
7. Mental illnesses (30 percent)
8. Severe pulmonary disease (26 percent)
9. Diabetes (20 percent)
10. STD (14 percent)

* The Forsa Institute conducted a nationwide and representative survey of 3,015 men and women for the DAK from 11 to 29 October 2010. (DAK, 10.11.2010)