Table 2.

Example and frequency of headline themes (n=45)

Theme description	Example	%
Questioning cancer/re-thinking cancer/debate on cancer	‘Rethinking the word cancer: study calls for low-risk forms of the disease’	35.6
Doctors told to/doctors should	‘Doctors should avoid saying ‘cancer’ for minor diagnoses’	20.0
Push for change or overhaul by researchers	‘Push for cancer diagnosis overhaul’	17.8
Reduce anxiety and/or overtreatment	‘Drop the C-word to reduce anxiety and overtreatment’	11.1
Other	‘Give patients the full truth on cancer: RACGP president elect’	15.6