By Ken Y-N ( November 17, 2009 at 00:00)
· Filed under Polls, Society
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Here’s an interesting and detailed survey from Cabinet Office Japan into cancer. I translated a similar survey from the Cabinet Office a couple of years ago.
Demographics
Between the 27th of August and the 6th of September 3,000 people were selected at random from all over the country to take part in face-to-face interviews. Of that number, 1,935 or 64.5% agreed to answer the questions in face-to-face interviews. 55.1% of the sample were female, 7.6% in their twenties, 15.4% in their thirties, 15.9% in their forties, 19.0% in their fifties, 23.3% in their sixties, and 18.7% aged seventy or older. Additionally, 44.7% were in employment, 11.2% self-employed, 3.9% worked for the family business, and 40.2% unemployed, including housewives, students and retired people. Of the unemployed, 61.9% were housewives (househusbands were not asked about) and the remaining 38.1% otherwise unemployed. Finally, 74.5% had either themselves or a family member, relative, workmate they were close to, etc, with cancer. 24.8% had not, and 0.8% didn’t know.
One thing that affects the quite high figures in Q6 is that by law all companies over a minimum size must give annual health checks to their employees, and the larger companies, like the one I work in, call in a bunch of doctors, X-ray buses and the like and give a once-over to everyone. However, the chest X-ray is pretty pointless, so I hear, as by the time anything is visible you’re pretty close to terminal. I hate the barium meal stomach one, as they stick you on this funfair ride and twirl you upside down and round about to get the barium to spread all over.
Research results
Q1: What is your impression of cancer? (Sample size=1,935)
| Not scary at all |
14.1% |
| Not too scary |
9.7% |
| Somewhat scary |
30.4% |
| Scary |
45.3% |
| Don’t know |
0.5% |
Q2: What measures do you take in your daily life to prevent cancer? (Sample size=1,935, multiple answer)
| Don’t eat burnt bits |
43.4% |
| Don’t smoke |
42.7% |
| Eat nutritionally-balanced meals |
42.2% |
| Watch out for mold |
38.0% |
| Only use a little hot spice |
35.3% |
| Get regular cancer checks |
33.9% |
| Keep my body clean |
31.4% |
| Reduce the amount of fat I eat |
30.5% |
| Take appropriate exercise |
30.0% |
| Drink in moderation |
29.6% |
| Don’t overeat |
27.2% |
| Eat food with sufficient vitamins and rich in fibre |
26.7% |
| Try to vary my diet every day |
17.3% |
| Wait for too-hot foods to cool |
15.0% |
| Try not to expose myseelf to too much sun |
19.5% |
| Other |
0.7% |
| Nothing in particular |
14.8% |
Q3: From where do you get ordinary information about cancer causes, preention, etc? (Sample size=1,935, multiple answer)
| Television, radio programs |
73.6% |
| Newspapers |
54.7% |
| Friends |
32.7% |
| Hospital, etc, posters, pamphlets |
30.2% |
| Magazines |
19.1% |
| Internet |
13.2% |
| Books |
10.1% |
| Other |
2.1% |
| Nowhere in particular |
2.8% |
| Don’t know |
0.3% |
Q4: The National Cancer Centre provides not just information on causes and prevention of cancer but also information on hospitals and explanations of treatment methods, etc, and a Cancer Information Service site on the internet. Did you know about this? (Sample size=1,935)
| Know it well |
6.7% |
| Just heard the name |
14.3% |
| Never heard of it |
78.0% |
| Don’t know |
1.0% |
Q5: Do you think cancer tests are important with regards to early detection and treatment of cancer? (Sample size=1,935)
| Yes |
85.4% |
| Perhaps so |
12.0% |
| Perhaps not |
1.4% |
| Not at all |
0.6% |
| Don’t know |
0.6% |
Q6: Which of the following cancer tests have you had? (Sample size=1,935)
Q6A: Stomach cancer (barium meal, X-ray, etc)
| Less than a year ago |
31.4% |
| Less than two years ago |
6.7% |
| More than two years ago |
17.1% |
| Never |
44.0% |
| Don’t know |
0.8% |
Q6B: Lung cancer (X-ray, sputum test, etc)
| Less than a year ago |
36.3% |
| Less than two years ago |
6.1% |
| More than two years ago |
10.0% |
| Never |
46.5% |
| Don’t know |
1.1% |
Q6C: Colon cancer (blood in stool, etc)
| Less than a year ago |
28.3% |
| Less than two years ago |
6.3% |
| More than two years ago |
13.5% |
| Never |
51.1% |
| Don’t know |
0.9% |
Q6D: Cervical cancer (Smear test, etc)
| Less than a year ago |
27.4% |
| Less than two years ago |
9.8% |
| More than two years ago |
25.6% |
| Never |
35.6% |
| Don’t know |
1.5% |
Q6E: Breast cancer (Visual inspection, touch inspection, mammography, etc)
| Less than a year ago |
23.3% |
| Less than two years ago |
9.0% |
| More than two years ago |
18.6% |
| Never |
47.7% |
| Don’t know |
1.5% |
Q6F: Other cancers
| Less than a year ago |
9.0% |
| Less than two years ago |
1.2% |
| More than two years ago |
3.6% |
| Never |
77.4% |
| Don’t know |
8.8% |
The next question is for everyone who has had any of the above tests.
Q6SQ1: What were the main means for taking these cancer tests? (Sample size=1,422, multiple answer)
| Workplace mass screening |
26.7% |
| Local government mass screening |
25.0% |
| Recommended by doctor |
24.6% |
| Local government individual test |
18.8% |
| Workplace individual test |
15.2% |
| “Human dock” all-over health check at local hospital |
13.8% |
| Other |
2.7% |
| Don’t know |
0.6% |
The next question is for those who have not had at least one cancer test within the last two years.
Q6SQ2: Why have you not taken a test within the last two years? (Sample size=1,729, multiple answer)
| Just haven’t taken it |
28.1% |
| Can always get a test when I have worries |
18.6% |
| Confident about my health, so don’t feel it’s necessary |
17.6% |
| Didn’t have time |
16.5% |
| It’s bothersome |
16.5% |
| Don’t feel it’s necessary to get examined every year |
12.6% |
| Costs too much |
10.8% |
| Not yet at the age where it’s needed |
7.7% |
| Worried about pain, etc from the test |
6.6% |
| Didn’t know about such a test |
6.1% |
| Don’t want to take it because I worry about the outcome |
4.8% |
| Location is far away |
2.3% |
| Other |
3.5% |
| No particular reason |
8.2% |
[part 1][part 2]
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The list of things people are doing to prevent cancer seems kind of weird.
But the burnt bits are the tastiest!
I love them too! but awful carcinogens in burnt food – not worth the risk really
Look up some papers on x-ray cancer screening. It does prevent a fair number of deaths, and it turns out it is cost-effective. Though I suspect it is more so in Japan, with lots of smokers, than in many western countries.
OK, I’ll look it up! But, I’d argue there’s a difference between the quality of a proper one-to-one versus the decrepit bus production line that we have to go for our annual check!
Oh, and I remember from a few years back that Japan has the highest incidence of X-rays per person, and the highest incidence of X-ray-caused cancers…
I was under the impression that the annual x-ray test’s primary purpose was to check for TB, not for cancer.
Risking the wrath of Janne I’ll say that I’ve also heard that TB is better (and more cheaply) detected with a skin test that tells if you have latent TB; x-rays should only be used to confirm the results of a positive test.
I’d argue against. The bus x-rays are as good, technically. And the screening might not only be as good, but better than at a regular clinic; the people doing the screening for those health check companies do nothing much else, and build up a lot of experience. And it’s known that experience – the number of cases they see – is an important factor in radiology screening accuracy.
Yes, health check clinics – and the bus versions especially – are dingy and worn, and the whole process is very conveyor-belt like. But the health check quality is no worse than at a regular clinic, and for some things is probably better.
Oh, I see – maybe I was just joining in with the general gaijin moaning about these compulsory checks…
Heh, I think they’re fun
It’s not often you get the experience of being a plucked chicken on a conveyor belt (well, minus the cutting off the head bit).
Really should be more people getting sputum tests for lung cancer, considering the nation’s love of smoking. It’s quick and easy to do, and even applies to people who work around secondhand smoke all day – a friend of mine lost her dad due to his whole office smoking inside the building (this was long before the UK ban).
And wow, the ladies need to check up on themselves more! Cervical screenings should be waaay up percentage-wise, and breast checks as well. Perhaps it’s all a bit embarrassing for them (embarrassment seems a major deterrent especially in Japan) but it is desperately necessary.