Cancer Worry Distribution and Willingness to Undergo Colonoscopy at Three Levels of Hypothetical Cancer Risk—A Population-Based Survey in Sweden

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Cancer worry is a known health concern in cancer patients and people with a genetic predisposition to cancer. We measured how worried people, in general, are about developing cancer to describe levels in non-affected individuals. In total, 943 respondents completed a survey containing the Cancer Worry Scale (CWS) and hypothetical questions asking if they would attend a colonoscopy screening at a 5, 10, or 70 percent lifetime risk of developing bowel cancer. Unaffected individuals scored a mean of 9.46 on the six-item CWS. Women scored significantly higher than men (9.91 vs. 9.06). Women and parents had higher cancer worry than men and people without children when ruling out differences in education, age, and country of birth. People who worried more were also more inclined to undergo a colonoscopy screening, and intention increased with higher levels of hypothetical risk. These data may be helpful in future work on cancer worry and cancer prevention. ABSTRACT: Purpose: We describe levels of cancer worry in the general population as measured with the Cancer Worry Scale (CWS) and investigate the association with colonoscopy screening intentions in three colorectal cancer risk scenarios. Methods: The data were sourced through a population-based survey. Respondents (n = 943) completed an eight-item CWS and questions on colonoscopy screening interest at three hypothetical risk levels. Results: Respondents without a personal cancer history (n = 853) scored 9.46 on the six-item CWS (mean, SD 2.72). Mean scores were significantly higher in women (9.91, SD 2.89) as compared to men (9.06, SD 2.49, p < 0.001). Linear regression showed higher cancer worry in women and those with children when controlling for education, age group, and country of birth. High cancer worry (six-item CWS mean >12) was identified in 25% of women and in 17% of men. Among those, 71% would attend a colonoscopy screening compared to 52% of those with low cancer worry (p < 0.001, 5% CRC-risk). Conclusions: The distribution of cancer worry in a general population sample showed higher mean scores in women, and levels overlapped with earlier findings in cancer-affected samples. Respondents with high cancer worry were more inclined to undergo a colonoscopy screening, and intention increased with higher levels of hypothetical risk.