June the 15th, 2026 – Deeply concerning results have returned from a recent survey which showed that over 50% of Croatians believe a very dangerous and entirely incorrect cancer conspiracy theory.
Such beliefs can have devastating effects on cancer patients, their loved ones and society as a whole as science progresses rapidly in the treatment of the disease.
As Index/Nenad Jaric Dauenhauer writes, the aforementioned new survey has embarrassingly placed Croatia among the European countries with the highest levels of belief in one of the world’s most widespread health-related conspiracy theories.
According to Eurobarometer data on public attitudes toward science and technology, 55% of people surveyed in Croatia agreed with the claim that a cure for cancer has already been discovered but is being hidden from the public for financial reasons. Naturally, this makes one wonder about the collective IQ of the nation.
This shameful result puts Croatia near the top of the European rankings, alongside several other countries in Southeast Europe where similar beliefs are more common. In comparison, much lower levels of agreement were recorded in countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Scientists, particularly those engaged in studying and furthering research into treating and curing cancer, say the idea itself is built on a total and utter misunderstanding of what cancer, and its genesis, actually is.
Cancer is not one single disease, but a large group of different diseases with different causes, biological mechanisms, and treatments. The term “cancer” is used as an umbrella term for them all. Medical researchers point out that expecting one universal “cure for cancer” misunderstands not only the deep complexity of the condition, but how it varies from one individual to another. One man’s lung cancer is a death sentence, whereas many in this day and age are not at all.
Different cancers behave differently. Lung cancer, breast cancer, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, and other forms of cancer are not variations of the same illness, and they all require different approaches, research, and therapies. In many cases, if the cancer is discovered early, has not spread and has no nodal involvement, simple surgery is often deemed curative. There are also very many indolent cancers, which lack biological drivers for aggressive spread and develop hypoxia, likely never to become clinically significant but still require treatment or removal. These are all still cancer, regardless of their severity.
The spread of such extremely damaging beliefs is not unique to Croatia.
Across the world, health-related misinformation has become a growing challenge, particularly as social media allows scientific claims, rumours, and personal experiences to spread faster than ever. Researchers studying conspiracy beliefs say the issue is more complicated than simply a lack of knowledge. People may be influenced by distrust in institutions, previous negative experiences, fear during uncertain periods, or the appeal of explanations that provide a clear cause for complicated problems. Earlier research in Croatia has also found significant levels of belief in broader conspiracy theories, including claims involving powerful groups controlling global events and pharmaceutical companies hiding information.
Health experts warn that these beliefs can have real consequences. When people lose trust in medical systems or scientific evidence, they may delay seeking professional help, reject proven treatments, or turn toward unverified alternatives. At the same time, researchers stress that responding to misinformation requires more than simply dismissing people.
Building trust, improving science communication, and making reliable health information easier to understand are considered key parts of the solution. The survey highlights a wider challenge facing modern societies. In an age where information is available instantly, the difficulty is no longer only finding answers, but knowing which answers, and from whom, deserve to be trusted.
