People get breast cancer too

[AntiSocialDistancer]

I saw this helpful infographic today, but couldn't help muse on the recent confusion of language, gender and medical advice in light of it.

The image headline says "Men get Breast Cancer too!"

We know what this means, but I doubt TWAW are that women, aka trans women also get male breast cancer.

Should this advert say "Bodies with chests get breast cancer!" As those 'assigned' male, or female at birth get breast cancer.

People could realistically look at this and think it means "men" aka trans men get breast cancer, not realising it means biological males.

Should this advert say "Bodies with chests get breast cancer!"

I think that would be clear and inclusive...

It should say penos- havers get breast cancer too.

Includes everyone with a penis

Anyone can get breast cancer would work surely? Chest isn't anatomically correct.

@SusannaM

Anyone can get breast cancer would work surely? Chest isn't anatomically correct.

Ah but we have long since left behind reality and entered a world where "chest-feeding" is now the term.

It is a fact that men get breast cancer and it's not common knowledge. And info aimed at them is great.

And it's aimed at men in the meaning that has been used forever, and how pretty much everyone understands it. Sex.

I don't want to see important health messages to men go the same way as women's.

I want important health messages for women and girls, the language used pretty much forever to mean sex. To stop being fucked with. We need words. The ones that are verboten to use for female need to keep that meaning. They are understood to mean sex by the vast vast majority of the population.

Health messages need to be as clear and simple as possible. The new phrases are far less understood and will cause harm to those who need those messages. Female women and girls.

Oh and. The word female is going now and going fast.

Leaving us with none to describe the billions of women and girls on the planet as a distinct group.

That’s a good point actually OP. The info graphic is just saying it as it is (good), but in the current linguistic climate it could be taken to mean something completely different.

I see what you mean. It looks the same as "men menstruate/have babies too!" but means something completely different.

Interesting fact, slightly more UK AMAB people die of breast cancer than testicular cancer - although testicular cancer strikes at a much lower age so results in more years of life lost.

“Anyone can get breast cancer” would be a good message, but would men assume it meant them or all women?

Maybe “Anyone can get breast cancer - regardless of your sex or gender identity” although it’s not perfect and doesn’t seem to specifically target men who are the ones the campaign is for.

At some point a grown up conversation is going to have to be had by these charities about a truly inclusive way forward as the current situation can exclude those the message is aimed at.

literally everyone knows what a man and a woman is

literally everyone will understand this poster, it's admirably clear

of course it makes the whole 'bodies with vaginas' bullshit look doubly shameful. why do men get clear public health messages, but women have to wade through a list of body parts?

I actually don't think there's anything wrong with this. If they put 'anyone' it comes across as less direct and men would still not see it as relevant to them.

I think it gets the message across.

I also doubt this is related to trans/gender identity given that they used the word male in the poster. They're using men in the normal sense

@Tyrantosaurus

I also doubt this is related to trans/gender identity given that they used the word male in the poster. They're using men in the normal sense

I completely agree that its being used for men, biological men. Just musing on the recent bullshit around woman's health messaging how it could be read with other lenses, and how you might need to message to get through to all those who say TWAW.

This message is good.

The problem is that the words ‘men’ and ‘breast’ are made less clear by public bodies that claim that men can give birth and that you can feed a baby from your chest.

Yes, there's nothing wrong with this in itself.

It's just that people may assume it's meaningless because there's so much meaningless "men can have babies too" going on, that a fair part of the target audience may assume that this is like that and they mean "women who call themselves men" - because they think only women can get breast cancer.

In an environment where "men" and "women" are meaningless, posters like this become meaningless.

WHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? This is so transphobic! I am gasping with horror!!!!!!!!!

I don't want to see important health messages to men go the same way as women's. Sorry Gerbil, but prostate cancer already has - there was a thread yesterday, day before. I'll try and find it. But apparently 'people' can get prostate cancer now!

It's all fucked up in so many ways!

Typical double standards. This should read “Penis havers” get breast cancer too.
But as usual, men get to keep their words, while women are reduced to “bodies with vaginas”.

@Babdoc

Typical double standards. This should read “Penis havers” get breast cancer too. But as usual, men get to keep their words, while women are reduced to “bodies with vaginas”.

People with penises also have breasts!

Cleared things up I think.

I think there should be targeted campaigns for biological men, many are unaware that they can get breast cancer, and don't routinely check for changes in the chest area. I think what is going on elsewhere in healthcare is clouding things and makes this poster or whatever it is not seem successful.

Yeah yeah. Would be nice if there were targeted campaigns for both men and women, based solely on biology. But hey! We women can't have everything it seems.

Not even space to mock, discuss, snark at the indignity and imbalance of it all without being told to be nicer, more logical etc etc.

Pshaw!

People with people bodies get people cancer.

"People could realistically look at this and think it means "men" aka trans men get breast cancer, not realising it means biological males."

Good point. I have no doubt that the most fervent Believers probably will read it that way.

@LongBlobson

People with people bodies get people cancer.

Gold star, I think we've found the easiest way to convey the message in current climes.