[The attitude of medical institute students to cancer patients]

One hundred and twenty-eight fourth-year and 106 fifth-year medical students were questioned to evaluate their attitude to cancer patients. After taking a course in oncology, 11.3% of students considered cancer "contagious" or "likely to be contagious" and half the students considered cancer prevention "ineffective" or "likely to be ineffective". They distance themselves from cancer patients in family relations and their relations were closer in every day life and with friends.