The importance of health literacy in cancer awareness

Abstract

This digest was prepared to draw attention to the importance of health literacy in cancer awareness, relationship between cancer awareness and health literacy is examined in view of current information. Cancer ranks the second among the causes of death in our country and in the world. In the highly globalizing World, due to the population increase accompanied by aging, an increase in cancer disease is observed. This causes physical, emotional, and financial burdens on social health systems, so, cancer remains a significant public health issue. According to a World Health Organization report, 9.6 million people worldwide died of cancer in 2018, or one in six people. Cancer, falls into the category of non-communicable disease, is a chronic disease that progresses slowly, lasts for a long time with treatment, and monitoring which disrupts the quality of life of persons. Early diagnosis of cancer by persons and society, and awareness of people about it, with adequate knowledge about what they must do are fundamental steps for cancer awareness. Cancer is socially considered a malignant disease and public awareness about it is based on health literacy. According to the “Turkish health literacy early diagnosis of cancer to start earlier treatment. In societies with insufficient health literacy levels, low health care and preventive health services, raise the rates of non-communicable diseases, premature deaths. Because of negative social health provisions health care expenses increase. Countries should implement strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment by raising cancer awareness, since cancer is a serious threat to public health. In this context, information is available concerning the effectiveness of various intervention programs aiming individuals’ own health to respect and improve their health by self-protection. Developing social awareness in health using various methods with correct steps will be effective in achieving a reasonable increase in the level of health literacy. Primarily the level of health literacy will be determined and following activities will constitute the pathfinder in terms of quality and quantity.It is obvious that in societies with a high level of health literacy, existence of higher awareness of cancer is a fact. To increase public health literacy level and cancer awareness, primarily health service providers, receivers of this service, and, other social institutions should share responsibilities in developing various methods of intervention.