At first glance Rose Kushner’s “If you’ve thought about breast cancer…” is extensively detailed. Upon further inspection it’s safe to conclude that the book has indeed what seems to be everything one might want to know on the topic of breast cancer. With a table of contents that covers the first steps of identifying lumps to detailed content on surgical procedures and stages of breast cancer (32-41). I especially like how Kushner reminds the reader not to panic. With the fright of finding a lump or bump on breast tissue one’s first reaction might be to be to jump conclusions of facing imminent death from cancer. This statement, “If you find something you’re worried about DON’T PANIC!” (2) reminds me of friends and family that have stressed over the possibility of cancer before seeing a medically trained professional with experiences eyes and hands. Taking precautions is important, but from my understanding stressing over the possibility of a serious illness only increases fear and panic that might delay someone from initially going to see a doctor. As well, what I find to be important in Kushner’s book are the sub-sections for the procedures, whether they are safe and what exactly they do- for procedures such as mammograms Kushner even estimates the cost (6). It’s hard to find something negative to say about “If you’ve ever thought about breast cancer…”. Perhaps, it could use an expanded section for the risks and procedures for men developing breast cancer, however, as Kushner writes, “men get breast cancer…but very rarely compared to women’ (18). Thus, is if the overwhelming majority of those targeted by the disease are women it makes sense to write mainly for those most at risk. Over all, Rose Kushner’s extensive knowledgeable guide through breast cancer is an avid tool for any woman who has ever wondered about breast cancer.
3 thoughts on ““If you’ve ever thought about breast cancer…””
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I really enjoyed reading your post and I feel as though I can relate to witnessing the fear of a potentially fatal illness. For many people going to the doctor forces them to accept the cards they have been dealt and makes the situation mentally and emotionally real when they were previously able to brush it off. It is so important to see a professional as soon as possible as early detection and treatment is what will inevitably save your life and that is why articles such as this one are important.
Hi Adrianna, it was interesting to read your post as I had some of the contrasting thoughts on Rose Kushner’s writing. For instance, you mentioned that Kushner’s statement telling the readers ‘not to panic’ would relieve them. Your thought on “stressing over the possibility of a serious illness only increases fear and panic” is convincing at one point, but I personally think the opposite. I don’t think too much fear of illness will prevent a person from going to a hospital; people normally seek for options they can try out as soon as possible. In that sense, calming one down would not always be a good idea because as I wrote in my own post, it may even ‘trigger real victims to be ignorant about their own illnesses’. Thus, in my point of view, I believe that adequate precaution is needed (although it is the most difficult step), for those who think too optimistically about their own bodies.
Hi, Adrianna,
I think your analysis that hones in on the “don’t panic” idea—and yet how much anxiety you yourself have witnessed (and that might prevent folks from going to the doctor), is a very important part of the discourse on cancer itself, and breast cancer in particular. I wonder how fear itself shapes the way women, in particular, live in relationship with their own bodies, and as you say, effects people taking the steps of going to the doctor (or effects their own ability to advocate for themselves in the context of medical care)? (Also, I will note, that I am from the US, where universal health care is a totally new thing, so absolutely women avoided going to the doctor—bc the anxiety was compounded by financial stress—so I really do think trying to avoid/dissociate the fears was a survival mechanism for some in that kind of economic context!)
Thanks for your reflections; I think you are picking on on some very important connections between discourse on cancer and people’s felt experiences of trying to navigate fear/anxiety within that discourse.
Kimberly