Breastfeeding is recognised globally as the optimal method of infant feeding. For Murphy (1999) its nutritional superiority positions breastfeeding as a moral imperative where mothers who formula-feed are open to charges of maternal deviance and must account for their behaviour. We suggest that this moral superiority of breastfeeding is tenuous for mothers from marginalised contexts and competes with discourses which locate breastfeeding, rather than formula feeding, as maternal deviance. We draw on focus group and interview data from 27 adolescent mothers from socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods in three areas of the UK, and five early years professionals working at a Children's Centre in the Northeast of England. We argue that breastfeeding is constructed as deviance at three 'levels' as (i) a deviation from broad social norms about women's bodies, (ii) a deviation from local mothering behaviours and (iii) a transgression within micro-level interpersonal and familial relationships. Given this positioning of breastfeeding as deviant, breastfeeding mothers feel obliged to account for their deviance. In making this argument, we extend and rework Murphy's (1999) framework to encompass diverse experiences of infant feeding. We conclude with reflections on future research directions and potential implications for practice.
Prostate cancer is the second major cause of male cancer deaths. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer risk are linked. Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is involved in numerous cellular events, including proliferation and survival. The IGF-II gene shares its locus with the lncRNA, H19. IGF-II/H19 was the first gene to be identified as being “imprinted”—where the paternal copy is not transcribed—a silencing phenomenon lost in many cancer types. We disrupted imprinting behaviour in vitro by altering metabolic conditions and quantified it using RFLP, qPCR and pyrosequencing; changes to peptide were measured using RIA. Prostate tissue samples were analysed using ddPCR, pyrosequencing and IHC. We compared with in silico data, provided by TGCA on the cBIO Portal. We observed disruption of imprinting behaviour, in vitro, with a significant increase in IGF-II and a reciprocal decrease in H19 mRNA; the increased mRNA was not translated into peptides. In vivo, most specimens retained imprinting status apart from a small subset which showed reduced imprinting. A positive correlation was seen between IGF-II and H19 mRNA expression, which concurred with findings of larger Cancer Genome Atlas (TGCA) cohorts. This positive correlation did not affect IGF-II peptide. Our findings show that type 2 diabetes and/or obesity, can directly affect regulation growth factors involved in carcinogenesis, indirectly suggesting a modification of lifestyle habits may reduce cancer risk.
Purpose Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for Prostate Cancer (PCa) is associated with side effects that could lead to negative body image and low masculine self‐esteem of survivors. We compared a group of PCa survivors following ADT with ADT‐naïve patients, expecting the ADT group to show lower masculine self‐esteem. We also expected patients with hegemonic masculinity ideals to show poorer masculine self‐esteem and we hypothesized that ADT would moderate this relationship, expecting PCa patients on ADT with stronger hegemonic ideals to show the worst masculine self‐esteem scores among study participants. Methods We compared 57 PCa survivors on ADT (Mage = 64.16 (7.11)) to 59 ADT‐naïve patients (Mage = 65.25 (5.50)), on the Masculine Self‐Esteem Scale (MSES), Body Image Scale (BIS), and Hegemonic Masculinity Ideals Scale (HMIS). Results While the two groups did not significantly differ on masculine self‐esteem (F [1, 115] = 3.46, p = 0.065, ηp2 = 0.029) and body image (F [1, 115] = 3.46, p = 0.065, ηp2 = 0.029), younger age was significantly associated with higher body image issues (F [1, 115] = 8.63, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.071, β = −0.30). Hegemonic masculinity significantly predicted more masculine self‐esteem related issues (t (2, 114) = 2.31, β = 0.375, p < 0.05). ADT did not moderate this relationship. Conclusions The results suggest that endorsing hegemonic masculinity could represent a risk factor for low masculine self‐esteem regardless of ADT status and that younger age is associated with negative body image among PCa survivors. Implications These results suggest the importance of inclusion of topics related to hegemonic masculinity when providing support to PCa survivors, both when discussing treatment side effects, as well as in the later phases of survivorship. This pilot also suggests that younger PCa survivors might benefit from body‐image focused support regardless of treatment plan.
ObjectivesInterventions designed to improve men’s diet and physical activity (PA) have been recommended as methods of cancer prevention. However, little is known about specific factors that support men’s adherence to these health behaviour changes, which could inform theory-led diet and PA interventions. We aimed to explore these factors in men following prostatectomy for prostate cancer (PCa).Design, setting and participantsA qualitative study using semistructured interviews with men, who made changes to their diet and/or PA as part of a factorial randomised controlled trial conducted at a single hospital in South West England. Participants were 17 men aged 66 years, diagnosed with localised PCa and underwent prostatectomy. Interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis.ResultsMen were ambivalent about the relationship of nutrition and PA with PCa risk. They believed their diet and level of PA were reasonable before being randomised to their interventions. Men identified several barriers and facilitators to performing these new behaviours. Barriers included tolerance to dietary changes, PA limitations and external obstacles. Facilitators included partner involvement in diet, habit formation and brisk walking as an individual activity. Men discussed positive effects associated with brisk walking, such as feeling healthier, but not with nutrition interventions.ConclusionsThe facilitators to behaviour change suggest that adherence to trial interventions can be supported using well-established behaviour change models. Future studies may benefit from theory-based interventions to support adherence to diet and PA behaviour changes in men diagnosed with PCa.
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