Women hiding cancer

[MerchantofVenice]

Did anyone else see this story on the BBC website today? I will find the link in a sec. It's about women of south Asian origin, in this country, hiding the fact that they have cancer, and either facing treatment alone or just dying. It's due to the cultural stigma of cancer- it's shameful and a big taboo for some communities. I read the article with great sadness. And nowhere did it attempt to tackle why cancer is shameful only for women. Presumably the men are going and getting treated?? Why is this?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-40802527

No one? I realise there's not a fat lot to say about this appalling state of affairs except that it needs to change. But I wondered if anyone had any knowledge of the reasons behind this idea that cancer is only shameful for women. In addition, to read the BBC article, you'd think cancer was a exclusively female disease; they don't make any attempt to touch on why there is no issue for men in the same culture.

It's a strange article, there is nothing in it as to why women in particular feel this cultural pressure which is odd when that's what the article headline is about. Apart from some minor mentions about smear tests being culturally unacceptable due to issues of "purity".

It's awful. IDK anything about the culture, but it appears to be the usual mix of scapegoating - karma means you brought it on yourself - and wanting to keep women sexually 'pure'.
I think we need to introduce an annual Well Woman check up with a practice nurse. I cant see any other way round cultural taboos and male control.

Female specific cancers are amongst the most highly visible in the UK. All the pink ribbon stuff, moonwalks, baking events, celebrities talking about their mastectomies.

I think we need to introduce an annual Well Woman check up with a practice nurse

Every woman in the UK is sent a letter every 3 years from age 25 (used to be 20) asking her to make an appointment for a smear test. Every woman between 50 and 70 receives a letter about breast screening every 3 years and everyone over 50 receives a bowel cancer screening kit every 2 years.

Whatever the reason for this it is not the fault of the NHS or the government.

I don't know what the answer is- but, as you say Lass, it's not exactly the fault of the NHS.

It would be a start if news stories like this could do something approaching a proper job of reporting it. I mean, would it have been so hard to include just a sentence that deals with the horrific sexism of the stigma? As I said, you end up feeling as if the writer of that piece is unaware that cancer can actually affect men too.

I didnt say it was the fault of the NHS.
What I am saying is that we need to work out how to get women away from controlling men and into a situation where they can talk to someone. A universal health check with a female member of NHS staff would provide the perfect cover.

A universal health check with a female member of NHS staff would provide the perfect cover

And how do you propose this happens? Make attendance compulsory? We already have the screenings I mentioned which as far as I am aware are conducted by female staff and will offer the opportunity, if wanted, to discuss other concerns.

That sounded snippier than I meant but if the issue is that women from certain cultures are being prevented by men from attending for smears etc will calling it a well woman test alter that mindset?