Social constructions of breast cancer

Abstract

In contrast to other life-threatening diseases, in which mortality is understood as the fundamental threat, much popular and professional discourse about breast cancer focuses on such issues as the identity, body image, and self-worth of the afflicted woman. Within the Western biomedical tradition, the meaning ascribed to breast cancer has been strongly influenced by competing social interpretations. In this paper, we contend that such social constructions shape the manner in which women experience breast cancer, including their decision making in response to treatment options as well as their strategies for coping with and making sense of breast cancer illness. We argue that an appreciation of the historical and cultural contexts in which breast cancer imagery has been constructed helps to explain the confusing array of ideologies that confront contemporary women diagnosed with breast cancer.