“It’s your fault!”: Exploring stigma towards lung cancer in a multicultural society

Stigmatising attitudes towards lung cancer exist across cultures based on societal norms and beliefs. However, there is a notable gap in research on lung cancer stigma within Asian cultures such as Malaysia. Our study explored Malaysian public attitudes towards lung cancer through qualitative semi-structured interviews with 32 participants (11 Malays, 11 Chinese, and 10 Indians). Findings highlighted religious beliefs shaped participants’ perceptions, with some seeing cancer as fate or punishment, while gender norms also influenced how lung cancer was perceived, with societal expectations differing for men and women. Participants primarily attributed lung cancer to internal factors such as smoking, leading to moral judgements of personal responsibility, while some acknowledged genetic predispositions and environmental risks. Our study shows how sociocultural factors, including patriarchal and religious values, influence perceptions of lung cancer, underscoring the importance of culturally sensitive approaches to improve public health outcomes of lung cancer.