PMID: 9541076Apr 16, 1998Paper

The social construction of the breast cancer epidemic

Social Science & Medicine
Paula M Lantz, K M Booth

Abstract

The age-adjusted incidence of breast cancer among U.S. women rose by over 30% during the 1980s. Several population-based studies have concluded that most or all of this observed increase is an artifact of the lead time afforded by mammography screening rather than an indication of a true increase in the rate at which women develop the disease. We conducted a study of the social construction of breast cancer trends as a public health problem in popular U.S. magazines. We documented trends in popular magazine article coverage of breast cancer between 1980 and 1995. In addition, we analyzed the content of a convenience sample of 228 popular magazine articles published between 1987 and 1995, focusing on a subsample of articles (n = 91) that mention the increase in breast cancer incidence. Our results show that the increase in incidence is commonly portrayed as a mysterious, unexplained epidemic occurring primarily among young, professional women in their prime years. Many articles suggest that recent changes in women's behavior such as increases in delayed childbearing, nulliparity, the use of oral contraceptives, induced abortion, and the use of tobacco and alcohol are related to the recent upsurge in the disease. The portrayal of...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 24, 2008·Journal of Cancer Survivorship : Research and Practice·Elizabeth Edsall KrommRachel Friedman Singer
Jun 12, 2013·Social Science & Medicine·Miranda R Waggoner
Jul 31, 2003·American Journal of Ophthalmology·Hakan DemirciJerry A Shields
May 7, 2002·Social Science & Medicine·John Mirowsky, Catherine E Ross
Dec 11, 2002·Social Science & Medicine·Nancy E SchoenbergElaine M Drew
Aug 30, 2008·Journal of Health Communication·Michael D SlaterJason B Reineke
Mar 8, 2006·Health Communication·Katherine Clegg Smith, Melanie Wakefield
Apr 1, 2011·Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law·Sarah E GollustPeter A Ubel
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Aug 12, 2009·Social Science & Medicine·Sarah E Gollust, Paula M Lantz
Jan 25, 2006·Social Science & Medicine·Juanne N Clarke, Michelle M Everest
Jul 26, 2005·Social Science & Medicine·Patricia Radin
Jan 7, 2004·Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·Karen Willis, Janeen Baxter
Oct 15, 2014·Medical Anthropology Quarterly·Kirsten Bell, Svetlana Ristovski-Slijepcevic
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