Article

What do people fear about cancer? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of cancer fears in the general population

Details

Citation

Vrinten C, McGregor LM, Heinrich M, von Wagner C, Waller J, Wardle J & Black GB (2017) What do people fear about cancer? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of cancer fears in the general population. Psycho-oncology, 26 (8), pp. 1070-1079. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4287

Abstract
Background Cancer has long inspired fear, but the effect of fear is not well understood; it seems both to facilitate and to deter early diagnosis behaviours. To elucidate fear's behavioural effects, we systematically reviewed and synthesised qualitative literature to explore what people fear about cancer. Methods We searched Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, AnthroSource, and Anthrobase for studies on cancer fear in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening and analysed 102 studies from 26 countries using thematic synthesis. Results Fears of cancer emanated from a core view of cancer as a vicious, unpredictable, and indestructible enemy, evoking fears about its proximity, the (lack of) strategies to keep it at bay, the personal and social implications of succumbing, and fear of dying from cancer. Conclusions This view of cancer as ‘an enemy’ reprises the media's ‘war on cancer’ theme and may affect the acceptance of cancer early detection and prevention messages, since cancer's characteristics influenced whether ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ was considered appropriate.

Keywords
cancer; fear; oncology; screening; worry

Journal
Psycho-oncology: Volume 26, Issue 8

StatusPublished
FundersCancer Research UK
Publication date31/08/2017
Publication date online19/09/2016
Date accepted by journal15/09/2016
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/30126
ISSN1057-9249
eISSN1099-1611

People (1)

People

Dr Lesley McGregor

Dr Lesley McGregor

Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Psychology