Belief in fake causes of cancer is rife

Mistaken belief in mythical causes of cancer is rife, according to new research from UCL and the University of Leeds. The findings, published today in the European Journal of Cancer, show that out of 1,330 people in England more than 40% wrongly thought that stress (43%) and food additives (42%) caused cancer. A third incorrectly believed that electromagnetic frequencies (35%) and eating GM food (34%) were risk factors, while 19% thought microwave ovens and 15% said drinking from plastic bottles caused cancer despite a lack of good scientific evidence. Among the proven causes of cancer, 88% of people correctly selected smoking, 80% picked passive smoking and 60% said sunburn. Belief in mythical causes of cancer did not mean a person was more likely to have risky lifestyle habits. But those who had better knowledge of proven causes were more likely not to smoke. Dr Lion Shahab (UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health) said: "People's beliefs are so important because they have an impact on the lifestyle choices they make.