"This is a worrying fact, considering that oncologists opine three in every 10 Indians are likely to contract the disease by 2020," it said. Twenty nine per cent of the city’s respondents perceived themselves to be 'completely aware' of the various stages of cancer, 46 per cent considered themselves 'somewhat' in the know whereas 25 per cent of respondents considered themselves unaware of the stages of cancer.



In contrast, the oncologists' survey revealed that on a national level, only about seven per cent of patients who visit them hold 'complete awareness' of the different stages of cancer, while 30 per cent possess a 'reasonable understanding' of the same.

All respondents claimed to know about the different types of cancer (breast cancer and lung cancer featured high on the awareness radar at 45 and 36 per cent respectively) whereas oncologists revealed that only 1/4th of the people who visited them knew about the different types of cancer.

Respondents of Chennai estimated that the average cost of cancer treatment was Rs 3.6 lakh. Oncologists disclosed the average cost of treatment to be upwards of Rs 4.7 lakh depending on the type of cancer and stage of detection.