Poll: Most Optimistic About Cancer Cure
This poll was taken as part of CBS News' "Where America Stands" series, an in-depth look at where the country stands today on key topics and an outlook for the future decade.
Seventeen percent of those surveyed say it is very likely a cure will be found in their lifetime, and another 38 percent say it is somewhat likely.
One in four say isn't very likely a cure will be found, while 15 percent say it's not likely at all.
Americans over 65 are relatively pessimistic about a cure. Those under 30 are more optimistic, with seven in ten calling the discovery of a cure in their lifetime at least somewhat likely.
Just seven percent in the survey of 1048 adults nationwide, which was taken between December 17th and 22nd, give the U.S. an A grade when it comes to making progress toward a cure.
Thirty-five percent give the country a B, and another 33 percent offer a C. Nearly one in four say the country deserves a grade of D or F.
Cancer affects Americans widely, with nearly three in four saying either themselves or someone in their family has been stricken at some point.
Most Americans are at least somewhat worried they will contract the disease. Twelve percent say they are very worried about getting cancer, and 44 percent say they are somewhat worried. Four in ten say they are not very or not at all worried.
About three in four Americans say they have taken steps to reduce their cancer risk. The most cited step, identified by 27 percent of those surveyed, is watching diet. Thirteen percent pointed to doctor visits, and 12 percent cited their decision not to smoke.
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1048 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone December 17-22, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.
This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.