What is the Issue?

Breast cancer has caused millions of deaths in women across the globe. The increasing cases of breast cancer has raised awareness and brought breast cancer to a global stage. As a result, women across the world have united to help and support those affected by this disease and donate to finding cures. Breast cancer is a women’s issue in the field of medicine. With a heightened awareness of the true significance of this disease mammograms are now covered by insurance companies. This gives women the chance to get examined regularly increasing the survival rate if cancer is stopped at its early stages. The most prevalent and successful treatment method for breast cancer is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a beneficial radiation process that attacks malignant cancer cells. Women often have one or more breast surgically removed to help eliminate cancer in their bodies. Feminist Sue Wilkinson elaborates on how women who experience breast cancer are expected to hide their physical and emotional scars by wearing wigs or fake breasts to conform to society and feel better about their appearance. She mentions that “Not a single woman among my research participants described thinking about whether she would wear prosthesis after surgery – the possibility of not doing so was simply not an available option”(Wilkinson 3). Maintaining a certain appearance and upholding the role of a woman is influenced by society despite a breast cancer victim’s tribulations.

More than 180, 000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States every year and countless more are diagnosed beyond our frontier. According to an article published in Time magazine, “an estimated 1 million cases will be identified this year, and about 500,000 new and existing patients will die from the disease [in the world].” Organizations have been established around the world that evoke sisterhood by allowing women to come together by addressing the issue of breast cancer. Through the creation of national and international organizations like the National Breast Cancer Coalition in the United States and the Organization against Breast Cancer in Israel, breast cancer has become globalized feminist issue-metaphorically building a bridge that connects women around the world. In this project we interviewed a woman who suffers from breast cancer, a breast cancer survivor, and a family member of a woman who lost her life to breast cancer. Our presentation will highlight the mental, social, and physical effects of breast cancer, while citing various feminist issues.