Anna Krentowska1, Elzbieta Sierko-Nobis1, Alicja Strzalka2, Wioletta Pietruszewska3, Dominika Hempel4,5, Ewa Sierko4,5. 1. Students' Scientific Association in the Department of Oncology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. 2. Students' Scientific Association in the Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. 3. Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. 4. Department of Oncology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. 5. Department of Radiotherapy, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bialystok, Poland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease, which results in suboptimal treatment outcomes, and leads to aesthetic and functional side-effects. Many risky behaviours associated with this type of cancer start at a young age. The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of HNC awareness in the young population in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous online survey on HNC was conducted among 1903 people between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Closed-ended questions concerned HNC risk factors, symptoms and prognosis. RESULTS: 85.1% of respondents were familiar with HNC. The main source of information was the Internet (57.3%); 78.2% of participants associated HNC occurrence with smoking, 43.4% with alcohol consumption and 37.2% with the human papillomavirus infection. The main risk factors mentioned by students of non-medical educational institutions included smoking, stress and excessive sunbathing. A quarter of respondents (37.7%, if medical students are excluded) were unaware of any early symptoms of HNC. The symptoms mentioned most frequently included chronic hoarseness (55.3%), a lump in the neck (51.8%) and chronic sore throat (51.4%). Over three-quarters of medical students and half of the remaining respondents connected early diagnosis with a better chance of being cured; 4.6% of medical students and 9.6% of students of other educational institutions would seek medical advice only when symptoms made everyday functioning impossible. CONCLUSIONS: The level of HNC cancer awareness in the young population is alarmingly low. A large number of non-medical students are unaware of risk factors and early symptoms. Educational campaigns aimed at effective prophylaxis, earlier diagnosis and treatment of HNC are needed.
PURPOSE: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease, which results in suboptimal treatment outcomes, and leads to aesthetic and functional side-effects. Many risky behaviours associated with this type of cancer start at a young age. The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of HNC awareness in the young population in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous online survey on HNC was conducted among 1903 people between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Closed-ended questions concerned HNC risk factors, symptoms and prognosis. RESULTS: 85.1% of respondents were familiar with HNC. The main source of information was the Internet (57.3%); 78.2% of participants associated HNC occurrence with smoking, 43.4% with alcohol consumption and 37.2% with the human papillomavirus infection. The main risk factors mentioned by students of non-medical educational institutions included smoking, stress and excessive sunbathing. A quarter of respondents (37.7%, if medical students are excluded) were unaware of any early symptoms of HNC. The symptoms mentioned most frequently included chronic hoarseness (55.3%), a lump in the neck (51.8%) and chronic sore throat (51.4%). Over three-quarters of medical students and half of the remaining respondents connected early diagnosis with a better chance of being cured; 4.6% of medical students and 9.6% of students of other educational institutions would seek medical advice only when symptoms made everyday functioning impossible. CONCLUSIONS: The level of HNC cancer awareness in the young population is alarmingly low. A large number of non-medical students are unaware of risk factors and early symptoms. Educational campaigns aimed at effective prophylaxis, earlier diagnosis and treatment of HNC are needed.
Authors: Julia E Heck; Julien Berthiller; Salvatore Vaccarella; Deborah M Winn; Elaine M Smith; Oxana Shan'gina; Stephen M Schwartz; Mark P Purdue; Agnieszka Pilarska; Jose Eluf-Neto; Ana Menezes; Michael D McClean; Elena Matos; Sergio Koifman; Karl T Kelsey; Rolando Herrero; Richard B Hayes; Silvia Franceschi; Victor Wünsch-Filho; Leticia Fernández; Alexander W Daudt; Maria Paula Curado; Chu Chen; Xavier Castellsagué; Gilles Ferro; Paul Brennan; Paolo Boffetta; Mia Hashibe Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2009-12-18 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Karin Annertz; Harald Anderson; Anders Biörklund; Torgil Möller; Saara Kantola; Jon Mork; Jörgen H Olsen; Johan Wennerberg Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2002-09-01 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: Robert L Cook; Erika L Thompson; Natalie E Kelso; John Friary; Jennifer Hosford; Phillip Barkley; Virginia J Dodd; Martha Abrahamsen; Shaun Ajinkya; Peter Daniel Obesso; Mohammed H Rashid; Anna R Giuliano Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2014-08 Impact factor: 2.830
Authors: Renske Fles; Sagung R Indrasari; Camelia Herdini; Santi Martini; Atoillah Isfandiari; Achmad C Romdhoni; Marlinda Adham; Ika D Mayangsari; Erik van Werkhoven; Maarten A Wildeman; Bambang Hariwiyanto; Bambang Hermani; Widodo A Kentjono; Sofia M Haryana; Marjanka K Schmidt; I Bing Tan Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2016-03-01 Impact factor: 2.692