Anthropologies of Cancer and Risk, Uncertainty and Disruption

Chronicity and the patient’s decision-making work. The case of an advanced cancer patient

“…The levels of uncertainty surrounding cancer (Manderson 2011) are increased by the use of experimental treatments (Cortez and Halpin 2020), and this has resulted in several issues in terms of medical decision-making (Fox 1959). As Kerr et al have suggested, "biomedical knowledge has in many cases introduced new kinds of uncertainties, work and responsibilities to be navigated by cancer patients and professionals."…”

Trajectories to a cancer diagnosis: Why and when women seek help for breast symptoms in Vietnam

“…There is evidence suggesting that cultural beliefs surrounding women's bodies and illness (Banning et al, 2010 ; Dey, 2014 ; Hwang et al, 2017 ; Steiness et al, 2018 ); misinterpretations of abnormal symptoms (Moodley et al, 2016 ; Pruitt et al, 2015 ); perception of cancer incurability, notably the concept of fatalism (Drew & Schoenberg, 2011 ; Kaiser et al, 2013 ; Kassam et al, 2017 ); as well as the stigma of cancer (Azaiza & Cohen, 2008 ; Hwang et al, 2017 ) are deterrents to women's participation in screening and diagnosis‐searching practices. Recent research has also acknowledged systemic factors that explain women's unwillingness to seek breast cancer screening and diagnosis after discovering symptomatic breasts, including the absence of screening and diagnostic services; culturally and linguistically inappropriate screening‐promoting materials; high costs; a lack of or untimely medical referrals; gender insensitivity of the health systems; or the discriminatory attitudes of healthcare providers (Manderson, 2011 ; Pasick & Burke, 2008 ; Pruitt et al, 2015 ; Salman et al, 2018 ; Woof et al, 2019 ).…”