Feminist Approach to Cancer & 800,000 Lives

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Health experts are calling for a “feminist approach” to stop cancer, aiming to close the gaps in care that lead to unnecessary suffering and death for women. Research shows that 800,000 women around the world die each year simply because they don’t receive the care they need.

Cancer is a major threat to women’s health, ranking among the top three causes of premature death globally. This alarming situation affects women in almost every country. A report in The Lancet highlights that gender inequality and discrimination play significant roles in preventing women from receiving timely cancer diagnoses and effective treatments.

Gender Inequality in Cancer Care

The report, the largest of its kind, studied women’s cancer experiences across 185 countries and found that unequal power dynamics significantly affect access to cancer prevention and treatment for women. While much attention is given to “women’s cancers,” such as breast and cervical cancer, it’s important to note that lung and colorectal cancers are also leading causes of cancer deaths in women.

Beyond healthcare, gender inequality also impacts women’s opportunities in cancer research and policy-making. There is a clear lack of female representation in these fields, which means women’s specific cancer care needs often receive less attention.

A Call for Gender Equality in Cancer Research

The team behind the report includes experts from gender studies, human rights, social sciences, and cancer prevention. Their goal is to shed light on the need for a feminist agenda in cancer care to eliminate gender inequalities and improve women’s access to life-saving treatments.

Dr. Ophira Ginsburg, a senior adviser at the National Cancer Institute, emphasizes that patriarchal systems negatively impact women’s cancer experiences. She points out that while women’s health services often focus on reproductive health, they neglect the critical issue of cancer. The report urges cancer to be prioritized in women’s health discussions.

Preventable Cancer Deaths in Women

A second study in The Lancet Global Health found that up to 1.5 million premature cancer deaths among women under 70 in 2020 could have been prevented by eliminating key risk factors and improving early detection. Specifically, the study revealed that 800,000 more lives could be saved annually if all women had access to the best cancer care available.

In 2020, 1.3 million women died from cancer caused by four major risk factors: tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, and infections. However, these risks are often overlooked. For example, a 2019 study found that only 19% of women in the UK knew that alcohol is a significant risk factor for breast cancer.

“Discussions about cancer in women often focus on ‘women’s cancers’, such as breast and cervical cancer,” Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram

The Growing Risk of Lung and Colorectal Cancer in Women

Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, co-chair of the commission, mentioned that while breast and cervical cancers dominate the conversation, lung and colorectal cancers are two of the top cancer killers in women. In fact, in many high-income countries, deaths from lung cancer in women have surpassed those from breast cancer. She highlights that the tobacco and alcohol industries specifically target women, and calls for governments to implement gender-specific policies to reduce exposure to these risks.

Addressing the Gender Gap in Cancer Care

There’s an urgent need to better understand the risk factors for cancer in women, as they are still less understood compared to those for men. Dr. Verna Vanderpuye, another co-chair of the commission, pointed out that two-thirds of the 3 million adults under 50 diagnosed with cancer in 2020 were women. Cancer is a leading cause of death for women, and many affected die while in their prime, leaving behind an estimated 1 million children each year.

“She has no family history of breast cancer (but there of other is history of other cancers). I just want to help her so badly.” MW, United Kingdom

A Feminist Agenda for Cancer Policy

To tackle these inequalities, the commission recommends that all cancer-related policies take into account both sex and gender. They emphasize the need for strategies to raise awareness of cancer risks and symptoms among women, while ensuring that all women have equitable access to early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

“Improved outcomes for women translate into benefits for households, communities, societies, and the world.” Dr. Monica Bertagnolli

Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, director of the National Cancer Institute, emphasized the importance of putting the commission’s recommendations into practice. She believes that achieving gender equality in cancer care requires broad implementation of these recommendations, especially integrating sex and gender considerations into every aspect of cancer policy.

Why a Feminist Approach Matters

Improving cancer care for women benefits not only individuals but also their families, communities, and society. Addressing the gender inequalities in cancer care is essential. Now is the time to focus on a feminist approach that prioritizes women’s health in the fight against cancer.

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