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Faced with a diagnosis of cancer, Koreans would be more worried about the hospital expenses than the fact that they have the disease, a survey suggests. The National Cancer Center commissioned Korea Research to conduct a poll of 1,040 adults aged between 20 and 69 early this year.
Some 67.5 percent of respondents picked hospital expenses as the most disconcerting factor when they or someone in the family is diagnosed with cancer. Fear of death was a distant second with 12.2 percent, and lack of information on hospitals and the disease came third with 11.5 percent. Loss of job and inability to work and the burden of tending to the patient followed with 4.5 and 1.6 percent of responses.
Asked what the government should do to tackle cancer, respondents said it needs to expand early diagnostic programs, and alleviate the financial burden on the families of cancer patients. Other answers included cancer prevention campaigns such as against smoking or for improved medical services, and investment in research and development of groundbreaking technology to treat the disease. Oncologist Lee Jin-soo, the NCC president, said the center will propose ways to reduce the financial burden of treating cancer, and work hard on developing anti-cancer drugs.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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