Abstract
Background: Beliefs about cancer risk and experience of early detection and treatment can impact on willingness
to engage with these initiatives. This study describes changes in perceptions of cancer mortality, early detection and
treatment among adult New Zealanders (NZ) between two cross-sectional studies conducted in 2001 and 2014/5.
Methods: Data was collected via telephone interviews conducted by trained interviewers in 2001 (231 females and
207 males, 64% response rate) and 2014/5 (588 females and 476 males, 64% response rate). Participants were asked
to identify the most common three causes of cancer mortality among women and then men. They were also asked to
note their agreement or otherwise with statements about early detection and treatment of cancer. Results: There was an
increase in proportions of men who correctly identified prostate cancer as one of the top three causes of cancer mortality
among men, and also an increase among women who correctly identified bowel cancer as one of the top three. Most
participants agreed that there were benefits from early detection for cancer outcomes. Over time, there was a significant
decline in proportions which felt that most cancer treatment is “so terrible it is worse than death” and that alternative
therapy has an “equal or better chance of curing cancer.” Conclusion: Internationally, there is little information available
about changes in cancer perceptions over time, these findings suggest some changes in perceptions of treatment and
awareness of types of cancer with the highest mortality in NZ, which should support timely engagement with early
detection and treatment services.