A recent report published by the Work Cancer Research Fund this week suggests that half of Britons mistakenly think that stress can cause cancer, even though there is no evidence to support that belief.

The paper reported on findings from a YouGov survey of 2,070 British adults. The main finding were:

  • 50% of adults believe stress causes cancer (there is no evidence to support this)
  • 51% do not know that processed meat increases cancer risk
  • 51% are unaware that being physically active can reduce a person’s cancer risk.

Responding to the report, Fiona Osgun, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK added: “Research shows there’s no direct link between stress and cancer, but being stressed can make us more likely to reach for a glass of wine or the biscuit barrel. On the upside, healthy ways of dealing with stress like going for a brisk walk can help cut cancer risk.”

Read more in The Guardian here