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.
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"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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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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