44 Percent of Swedish Teens Believe That Cancer is Contagious

A survey conducted by a Swedish charity has found that nearly half of Swedes teens aged between 16 and 20 think that cancer is a contagious disease.

Ung Cancer found that 44 percent of young people thought that leukemia could be transmitted via contact with someone's blood.

"We didn't think their knowledge would be great but certain figures shocked us," said Ung Cancer's secretary general Julia Mjoernstedt.

"For example, only one percent knew that a vaccine is available against the human papillomavirus which can cause cervical cancer. It's terrifying."

Only a fraction of people (0.07 percent) knew that drinking alcohol is a risk factor in getting cancer, although 70 percent did know about the dangers of smoking.

The charity said it would "work to increase the level of knowledge."

A total of 945 people across 13 high schools were interviewed for the study.

Source: AFP

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