Approximately 65% of People Feel Anxious About Cancer. The Top Anxiety is 'Life-Threatening' at 68.6%. What Can Be Done for Early Detection?
A joint survey by NEXER and Salivatech reveals that approximately 65% of Japanese people feel anxious about cancer, with 68.6% citing 'life-threatening' as their primary concern. The survey sheds light on public perceptions, anxieties, and awareness regarding early detection of cancer.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 2, 2026 at 01:00 (14h 28m after Collected)
## Cancer Image: 'Life-Threatening Disease' Most Common at 66.2%
Cancer is said to affect one in two Japanese people during their lifetime.
Despite being a familiar disease, opportunities to deeply consider its reality and risks may be surprisingly few.
What kind of image do people have of cancer, and what anxieties do they harbor?
Also, what do they think can be done for early detection?
Therefore, in collaboration with Salivatech, we conducted a nationwide survey targeting 500 men and women on 'Images and Anxieties Regarding Cancer.'
*When quoting the contents of this press release, please comply with the following:
- State that the source is 'A survey by NEXER Co., Ltd. and Salivatech.'
- Provide a link to Salivatech (https://salivatech.co.jp/).
### 'Survey on Images and Anxieties Regarding Cancer' Overview
- Survey Method: Online questionnaire
- Survey Period: March 30, 2026 – March 31, 2026
- Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide
- Valid Responses: 500 samples
- Questions:
- Question 1: What image do you have of cancer? (Multiple answers allowed)
- Question 2: Have you ever considered the possibility of getting cancer yourself?
- Question 3: Please tell us the reason.
- Question 4: Have you ever had cancer?
- Question 5: Do you have any anxieties about cancer?
- Question 6: What are your main anxieties? (Multiple answers allowed)
- Question 7: What do you think can be done for early detection of cancer? (Multiple answers allowed)
*As a general rule, percentages are rounded to the first decimal place, so the total may not always be 100%.
## 66.2% Responded 'Life-Threatening Disease.' Most Common Image of Cancer.
First, we asked what image people have of cancer.
The most common response was 'life-threatening disease' at 66.2%.
This was followed by 'scary disease' at 54.8% and 'treatment seems difficult' at 52.4%.
All top three responses exceeded half, indicating that many people have a serious image of cancer.
## 58.0% Responded 'Have Considered' the Possibility of Getting Cancer Themselves.
Next, we asked if they had ever considered the possibility of getting cancer themselves.
'Often consider' was 17.0%, and 'sometimes consider' was 41.0%, totaling 58.0% of people who have considered the possibility of getting cancer. On the other hand, 'rarely consider' was 25.6%, and 'never consider' was 16.4%.
More than half of the people are aware of the risk of cancer as their own issue.
We asked for reasons why they have considered the possibility of getting cancer themselves, and here are some examples:
### Reasons for Considering the Possibility of Getting Cancer Themselves
- Because you never know what might happen. (20s, Male)
- Because I think it's a disease anyone can get. (30s, Female)
- My mother died of cancer. (30s, Female)
- I've been feeling unwell for several years, so I'm always anxious that I might have cancer. (40s, Male)
- When I hear about cancer in the news, I start thinking about it. (40s, Male)
- Because someone close to me got cancer. (50s, Female)
Some people felt anxious due to experiences like losing family members to cancer or their own poor health.
There were also responses indicating that they became aware of cancer through news and reports.
Regardless of age, awareness of cancer seems to be naturally increasing through personal experiences and daily exposure to information.
## 9.4% Responded 'Have Had Cancer.'
Next, we asked about the experience of having cancer.
The result was 9.4% 'yes' and 90.6% 'no.'
Furthermore, we asked those who have not had cancer about their anxieties regarding cancer.
'Very anxious' was 20.8%, and 'somewhat anxious' was 44.6%, totaling 65.4% of people who feel some kind of anxiety. 'Not very anxious' was 22.3%, and 'not anxious at all' was 12.4%.
This shows that many people fear this disease even if they have not personally experienced it.
## Top Anxiety is 'Anxiety About Life-Threatening Aspects' at 68.6%.
We asked those who responded that they have anxieties about cancer about the specific content of their anxieties.
The most common was 'anxiety about life-threatening aspects' at 68.6%.
This was followed by 'anxiety about the pain and side effects of treatment' at 60.8% and 'anxiety about medical expenses and financial burden' at 52.4%, with all top three exceeding half.
Cancer is said to affect one in two Japanese people during their lifetime.
Despite being a familiar disease, opportunities to deeply consider its reality and risks may be surprisingly few.
What kind of image do people have of cancer, and what anxieties do they harbor?
Also, what do they think can be done for early detection?
Therefore, in collaboration with Salivatech, we conducted a nationwide survey targeting 500 men and women on 'Images and Anxieties Regarding Cancer.'
*When quoting the contents of this press release, please comply with the following:
- State that the source is 'A survey by NEXER Co., Ltd. and Salivatech.'
- Provide a link to Salivatech (https://salivatech.co.jp/).
### 'Survey on Images and Anxieties Regarding Cancer' Overview
- Survey Method: Online questionnaire
- Survey Period: March 30, 2026 – March 31, 2026
- Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide
- Valid Responses: 500 samples
- Questions:
- Question 1: What image do you have of cancer? (Multiple answers allowed)
- Question 2: Have you ever considered the possibility of getting cancer yourself?
- Question 3: Please tell us the reason.
- Question 4: Have you ever had cancer?
- Question 5: Do you have any anxieties about cancer?
- Question 6: What are your main anxieties? (Multiple answers allowed)
- Question 7: What do you think can be done for early detection of cancer? (Multiple answers allowed)
*As a general rule, percentages are rounded to the first decimal place, so the total may not always be 100%.
## 66.2% Responded 'Life-Threatening Disease.' Most Common Image of Cancer.
First, we asked what image people have of cancer.
The most common response was 'life-threatening disease' at 66.2%.
This was followed by 'scary disease' at 54.8% and 'treatment seems difficult' at 52.4%.
All top three responses exceeded half, indicating that many people have a serious image of cancer.
## 58.0% Responded 'Have Considered' the Possibility of Getting Cancer Themselves.
Next, we asked if they had ever considered the possibility of getting cancer themselves.
'Often consider' was 17.0%, and 'sometimes consider' was 41.0%, totaling 58.0% of people who have considered the possibility of getting cancer. On the other hand, 'rarely consider' was 25.6%, and 'never consider' was 16.4%.
More than half of the people are aware of the risk of cancer as their own issue.
We asked for reasons why they have considered the possibility of getting cancer themselves, and here are some examples:
### Reasons for Considering the Possibility of Getting Cancer Themselves
- Because you never know what might happen. (20s, Male)
- Because I think it's a disease anyone can get. (30s, Female)
- My mother died of cancer. (30s, Female)
- I've been feeling unwell for several years, so I'm always anxious that I might have cancer. (40s, Male)
- When I hear about cancer in the news, I start thinking about it. (40s, Male)
- Because someone close to me got cancer. (50s, Female)
Some people felt anxious due to experiences like losing family members to cancer or their own poor health.
There were also responses indicating that they became aware of cancer through news and reports.
Regardless of age, awareness of cancer seems to be naturally increasing through personal experiences and daily exposure to information.
## 9.4% Responded 'Have Had Cancer.'
Next, we asked about the experience of having cancer.
The result was 9.4% 'yes' and 90.6% 'no.'
Furthermore, we asked those who have not had cancer about their anxieties regarding cancer.
'Very anxious' was 20.8%, and 'somewhat anxious' was 44.6%, totaling 65.4% of people who feel some kind of anxiety. 'Not very anxious' was 22.3%, and 'not anxious at all' was 12.4%.
This shows that many people fear this disease even if they have not personally experienced it.
## Top Anxiety is 'Anxiety About Life-Threatening Aspects' at 68.6%.
We asked those who responded that they have anxieties about cancer about the specific content of their anxieties.
The most common was 'anxiety about life-threatening aspects' at 68.6%.
This was followed by 'anxiety about the pain and side effects of treatment' at 60.8% and 'anxiety about medical expenses and financial burden' at 52.4%, with all top three exceeding half.