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Verna Vanderpuye, co-chair of the commission and a senior consultant at the National Center for Radiotherapy, Oncology, and Nuclear Medicine in Ghana, emphasized that in 2020,
Cancer has emerged as a leading cause of mortality for women, with many losing their lives during their prime years, leaving behind an estimated 1 million children in that year alone (
).
A study published in The Lancet drew from data spanning 185 countries, focusing on the health of women aged 30 to 69. It suggested that adopting a “feminist approach” to cancer treatment could potentially save the lives of around 800,000 women worldwide annually. The authors underscored that gender inequality in cancer diagnosis and care is leading to preventable deaths.
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Ophira Ginsburg, an oncologist and senior advisor for clinical research at the National Cancer Institute’s Centre for Global Health, co-chair of the commission, highlighted that the influence of a patriarchal society on women’s experiences with cancer has often been overlooked. She stressed the need for cancer to be given priority in women’s health, advocating for the immediate integration of a feminist approach to cancer.
An illustrative case mentioned in the study from Indian Express depicted the tragic demise of a 36-year-old woman from Mumbai who was unaware that her persistent headaches were a result of developing brain cancer. Her physically abusive husband callously dismissed her pain, revealing a stark lack of gender equity in cancer care.
Alarming Statistics: Women and Cancer Mortality
Research indicates that approximately 1.3 million women who succumbed to cancer in 2020 could have been spared if not for four major risk factors: tobacco, alcohol, obesity, and infections.
Major Risk Factors Contributing to Women’s Cancer Deaths
However, discussions surrounding cancer in women typically center on “women’s cancers” like breast and cervical cancer, overshadowing the fact that about 300,000 women under 70 die annually from lung cancer, and 160,000 from colorectal cancer two of the top three causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The commission urged governments to counteract targeted marketing by the tobacco and alcohol industry with gender-specific policies aimed at raising awareness and reducing exposure to these risk factors.
Even in cases of breast cancer, the treatment rarely acknowledges the inner struggle of women dealing with a life-threatening illness while contending with societal expectations concerning women’s bodies. This can significantly impact a person’s sense of identity and body image.
The majority of breast and cervical cancer-related deaths among women are premature and largely preventable, as outlined by the Agency for Research on Cancer. The situation for women grappling with other forms of cancer, often overlooked in research, is even more dire.
This latest research reinforces the existing knowledge that women are frequently overlooked in the sphere of medical research. The perception of women primarily as child-bearers and rearers contributes to the lack of research into cancers beyond breast and cervical cancer. Additionally, sexism in STEM fields hampers women’s participation, resulting in a scarcity of women-centered cancer prevention and care in research, practice, and policymaking.
The current healthcare model is characterized by an imbalanced power dynamic between doctors and patients, often leaving the latter feeling marginalized and lacking agency. This is precisely where a feminist healthcare model, characterized by equal provider-patient relationships, access to information, shared decision-making, and social change, can instigate positive transformations, making healthcare accessible and beneficial for all parties involved.
A feminist approach to cancer research would not only benefit women but also promote greater societal equality. Monica Bertagnolli, director of the National Cancer Institute, who was not involved in the commission, emphasizes that achieving gender equality in cancer research and care is a cause that everyone can and should support. Improved outcomes for women have positive ripple effects on households, communities, societies, and the world at large.
Reference :
- Global estimates of incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in 2020: a baseline analysis of the WHO Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative – (https:www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(22)00501-0/fulltext)
Source: Medindia
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