Our reports and publications

Overweight and obesity’ is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. In 2018, Cancer Research UK launched an awareness raising campaign about the link between overweight and obesity and cancer risk. This study aimed to evaluate the reach and impact of the campaign.The campaign consisted of six elements including the main message that ‘Obesity is a cause of cancer’. UK adults and Members of Parliament (MPs) were surveyed before the campaign (W1; n = 2124 and n = 151), 1 month (W2; n = 2050 and n = 151) and 3 months after the campaign (W3; n = 2059 and MPs not surveyed). Outcome measures were campaign reach, awareness of overweight and obesity as risk factors for cancer, attitudes towards individuals who are overweight or obese, support for policies to reduce obesity and reactions to the campaign. This evaluation suggests that the campaign achieved the primary objective of increasing awareness of the link between obesity and cancer without increasing negative attitudes towards individuals who are overweight or obese.

Mass media campaigns can reach a large number of people with health messages, but it is unclear how effective these are at changing health behaviours. We conducted a narrative review of systematic reviews to examine the impact of mass media campaigns on eight health behaviours, as well as their cost-effectiveness. Specifically, we explored the impact of mass media campaigns on tobacco use, dietary behaviours, alcohol use, physical activity, sun and UV-protection, HPV vaccination, cancer screening uptake, and symptomatic GP presentation. We concluded that mass media campaigns should be used as part of multi-component, community-based interventions and more research is needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of these types of campaign.

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This report presents the data from the 2022 Lung Cancer Screening survey, led by Cancer Research UK (CRUK), conducted by YouGov and with the costs of the project covered by ScottishPower.

This piece of research aims to inform CRUK’s work in the lung cancer space. This may include taking action to support possible widespread introduction of targeted lung cancer screening by the NHS. It could also include work to mitigate any unintended consequences of targeted lung screening – such as impact on perceptions of the risk of lung cancer amongst people who have never smoked.

A bespoke survey was conducted to explore public perceptions around lung cancer and its risks, as well as knowledge and perceptions of screening, including eligibility and the impact of screening. This project built on previous work conducted by CRUK in order to optimise development of targeted lung cancer screening and ensure success of any future programme with minimised unintended consequences.

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An advertising campaign piloted by Cancer Research UK in 2018 aimed to promote quit attempts by increasing awareness of the relative harms of e-cigarettes compared with smoking. A cross-sectional survey evaluation was conducted surveying adults (≥16 years, n = 2217) living in the campaign region and the comparison/control regions. We tested interactions between time (pre, post) and region (campaign, control).

Compared with the control region, the campaign was associated with an increase in smokers’ motivation to quit but a smaller increase in adults’ perception of e-cigarettes as an effective cessation aid. It was identified that using mass media to communicate accurate information about the relative harms of e-cigarettes compared with smoking may be an effective strategy in increasing smokers’ motivation to quit. Further research is needed to evaluate effects on quit attempts and success.

Harry Tattan-Birch, Sarah E Jackson, Charlotte Ide, et al. Evaluation of the Impact of a Regional Educational Advertising Campaign on Harm Perceptions of E-Cigarettes, Prevalence of E-Cigarette Use, and Quit Attempts Among Smokers. Nicotine Tob Res 2019. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntz236

In the United Kingdom, standardised packaging for cigarettes was phased in between May 2016 and May 2017. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with current smokers aged 16+ in two regions of England when both standardised and fully-branded packs were available. The study found that standardised packaging was associated with increased warning salience and thoughts about risks and quitting. Specifically, compared with never users, current users were more likely to have noticed the warnings on packs often/very often, read them closely often/very often, thought somewhat/a lot about the health risks of smoking and thought somewhat/a lot about quitting. These findings provided support for standardised packaging during the transition period.

Moodie C, Brose LS, Lee HS et al. How did smokers respond to standardised cigarette packaging with new, larger health warnings in the United Kingdom during the transition period? A cross-sectional online survey.  Addiction Research & Theory 2019.

CRUK's training (“Talk Cancer”) aims to increase awareness of screening programmes and risk factors, promote more positive beliefs about cancer and increase confidence to discuss cancer with members of the public, among people working across the health service, local government, community and voluntary sectors who are appropriately placed to have these discussions with the public.

The evaluation found that the trainees' more positive beliefs about cancer, their increased confidence in discussing cancer and their increased awareness of bowel cancer screening were all maintained at 2 months.

Roberts A, Crook L, George H etc al. Two-month follow-up evaluation of a cancer awareness training workshop (“Talk Cancer”) on cancer awareness, beliefs and confidence of front-line public health staff and volunteers. Prev Med Rep 2019. 

This report summarises the findings from an online survey (n=2,115), which contributes to discussions about the ethics of cancer screening in a pandemic situation. It aims to build an understanding of public attitudes towards cancer screening and any potential delays in cancer screening. The majority of participants (86%) wanted to know about any potential delays, and nearly half (48%) would prefer to experience a delay to their invitation over other parts of the screening pathway. The earlier in the pathway a delay is experienced the less anxiety participants anticipated. 

This report supports a strategic delaying of cancer screening invitations under the proviso it ensures a shorter wait for follow-up tests and treatment. Ethical considerations about screening should include an emphasis on allowing the public to make an informed decision on their participation.

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An exploration into public attitudes towards the new Faster Diagnosis Standard for cancer, due to be introduced in England in 2020, within the context of a patients’ recent referral experiences.

It found that waiting for test results and responsibility for meeting the standard were the main concerns and it was concluded that patients should be asked what they would like to know about their referral and that GPs should be more transparent about the referral process and the potential for a lack of clarity around next steps.

Piano M, Black G, Amelung D et al. Exploring public attitudes towards the new Faster Diagnosis Standard for cancer: a focus group study with the UK public. Br J Gen Pract 2019.

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Research shows that leading a healthy lifestyle can help prevent cancer. Further, diagnosing cancer at an early stage can increase survival rates. Cancer Research UK (CRUK)'s nurse-led outreach activity supports cancer prevention, early diagnosis and screening in deprived community settings. CRUK developed a habit-based behaviour change tool to support this activity and better enable conversations about behaviour change. 

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Mass media campaigns can reach a large number of people with health messages, but it is unclear how effective these are at changing health behaviours. We conducted a narrative review of systematic reviews to examine the impact of mass media campaigns on eight health behaviours, as well as their cost-effectiveness. Specifically, we explored the impact of mass media campaigns on tobacco use, dietary behaviours, alcohol use, physical activity, sun and UV-protection, HPV vaccination, cancer screening uptake, and symptomatic GP presentation. We concluded that mass media campaigns should be used as part of multi-component, community-based interventions and more research is needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of these types of campaign.This report summarises the key findings from the CRUK Patient Survey, which collected data from December 2020 to March 2021. Findings are from patients who share their stories and experiences and give an indication of the impact COVID-19 has had on their testing, treatment and care. New data on remote consultations and COVID-19 safety measures have been collected.

The barriers to timely cancer diagnosis and treatment identified by people affected by cancer in this report are not an entirely new phenomenon that have emerged only in the pandemic. Even before COVID-19, cancer services were on the verge of crisis, and the vast majority of patients surveyed supported governments taking steps required to make expanding capacity in cancer services a reality.

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Improving public awareness of cancer and encouraging health behavior change are important aspects of cancer control. We investigated whether a community-based roadshow was an effective way of communicating with the public about cancer and encouraging behavior change. Data were from 1196 people who completed questionnaires at a Cancer Research UK Cancer Awareness Roadshow in 2013. Of these, 511 (43%) completed questionnaires immediately before their visit (pre-visit group) and 685 (57%) completed questionnaires immediately after their visit (post-visit group). Among the post-visit sample, 217 (32%) were retained after two months. Self-reported data were available on risk factor and symptom awareness, help-seeking barriers, use of healthcare services and health behaviors. Compared with the pre-visit sample, the post-visit group had greater awareness of cancer risk factors and was more positive about aspects of help-seeking but awareness of potential symptoms was similar. Most effects were maintained over two months. Intentions to eat more fruit and vegetables and to exercise more were comparable between the groups but more people in the post-visit sample intended to quit smoking. At 2-month follow-up, smoking prevalence had significantly reduced but fruit and vegetable consumption decreased and there was no change to physical activity. User of weight loss services and general practitioner visits were high at follow-up and largely attributed to the Roadshow. The Cancer Research UK Roadshow appears to improve risk factor awareness, promote positive attitudes towards help-seeking and increase smoking cessation. This approach could be a useful building block for additional cancer prevention and control strategies.

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Despite growing evidence that e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes, perceptions of equal or more harm have increased worldwide. This study aimed to identify the most common reasons behind people’s perceptions of the (i) relative harm of e-cigarettes compared with cigarettes and (ii) effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.

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Objectives To understand self-reported potential cancer symptom help-seeking behaviours and attitudes during the first 6 months (March–August 2020) of the UK COVID-19 pandemic.

Design UK population-based survey conducted during August and September 2020. Correlates of help-seeking behaviour were modelled using logistic regression in participants reporting potential cancer symptoms during the previous 6 months. Qualitative telephone interviews with a purposeful subsample of participants, analysed thematically.

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Worldwide, cancer screening faced significant disruption in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If this has led to changes in public attitudes towards screening and reduced intention to participate, there is a risk of long-term adverse impact on cancer outcomes. In this study, we examined previous participation and future intentions to take part in cervical and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening following the first national lockdown in the UK.

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