Introduction

Social attitudes toward individuals diagnosed with cancer have a significant impact on patients’ psychosocial well-being, treatment experience, and quality of life. Understanding the factors that shape acceptance or stigma is essential for developing effective interventions.

Material and methods

This study aimed to assess social attitudes toward people with various types of cancer, focusing on the influence of the cancer type, sociodemographic characteristics (like gender or age), and personal experience with the disease. A sample of 500 adults aged 18–65 was surveyed by quota-based random sampling method. Participants evaluated ten different cancer cases using the standardised Oncology Patients Social Acceptance questionnaire, with higher scores indicating greater social acceptance. Statistical analyses included repeated-measures ANOVA, independent-samples Student t-tests, and one-way ANOVA to examine differences by cancer type and demographic factors.

Results

Overall, participants demonstrated a high level of social acceptance toward individuals with cancer (M = 24.2, SD ≈ 5.0). Acceptance varied significantly by cancer type: patients with visible physical changes (e.g., oral cancer, laryngeal cancer, melanoma, bone cancer) received lower acceptance than those with internally located or non-visible cancers (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma, prostate cancer). Men, older participants, individuals with higher education, and those with personal or familial experience with cancer reported higher acceptance. Place of residence did not significantly affect attitudes.

Conclusions

Social acceptance of people with cancer is generally high but is influenced by disease visibility, demographic factors, and personal experience. Educational campaigns and initiatives with cancer survivors can help reduce stigma, enhance empathy, and support the social integration of oncology patients.