WSJ Article: Men and Women Face Cancer Differently

SummerAngel

http://www.wsj.com/articles/men-and-women-face-can...

"Men with prostate cancer were generally found to be analytical, methodical and data-driven in assessing their options. They sought out the latest scientific studies and outcomes research, and tended to obtain several doctors' opinions.

By contrast, women with breast cancer were typically distrustful of scientific data and even of their own physicians. Anxious that their cancer might return—and viewing any risk of recurrence, however small, as too great—many women favored aggressive treatment such as double mastectomy."

Talk about stereotyping! Wow. I happen to be a woman AND was analytical, methodical, and data-driven in assessing my options. Nothing like throwing all women into the "anxious female" basket!

Fallleaves

Really??? What a croc (also waste of money). I consider myself very analytical and clear-thinking, as well. Now my husband, he's a big baby....

cp418

Shame on Sloan for writing this type of article and actually funding it. They succeeded in insulting women patients with complex breast cancers and other deadly gynecologic cancers. Hmmm..... how many men under the age of 40 or 50 are diagnosed with prostate cancer - while still trying to raise young children? Generally prostate cancer is labeled a disease of more elderly men and not as many deaths compared to "female" cancers. Someone wanted to get published is what this is about IMO (and possibly waste donated research funds).

rainnyc

Nonsense! Completely lacking in nuance. I'm being treated at MSK (and believe me, I'm grateful to be there), and it's very difficult to get physicians to engage and be straightforward about treatment options. There's a power structure that makes it hard to get any information if one does not ask the right questions. It's not particular to MSK, I think. MDs are very busy, have little time for patients, and tend to focus on their clinical examination and on telling patients what they need to do. They'll answer questions, but then the patient has to know what questions to ask. And when I bring up studies I'd read online, they do not want to hear it. So no, I don't buy this.

BarredOwl

Hi:

This is from the marketing arm, not the medical arm of the institute:

"Also, the study, part of a fast-growing field of analyzing data from social media, is by no means traditional academic research, with its emphasis on randomized trials and peer reviews. It was directed by Sloan-Kettering's marketing arm, not its medical arm."

I'm pretty sure when men ask their MO about some study, they don't hear, "You're so cute," a response received by more than one member of these boards, and that is one too many.

BarredOwl

Traveltext

As a guy posting on BCO I feel like I can bring the male perspective to this forum. First, I know that men rarely post here, partly because they are just 1% of BC cases and partly because guys generally don't talk about medical issues in the same way as women do. I have to say that I'm as scientifically interested as the majority of women here, and I can see all types of questions are posted and nearly always answered thoughtfully and sympathetically. A look at the post topics makes you realise how diverse the topic range is and how many posters are looking for practical ways of coping as much as medical advice. Many posts are about social and practical aspects of surviving the disease and I believe these issues would never appear on the prostrate cancer forums because they are not applicable. Women, particularly younger ones, have special needs as they go about treatment and recovery balancing kids and jobs, etc. 

I would also suggest that prostate cancer and breast cancer are so medically and socially dissimilar that comparisons along gender lines are of marginal use any more than stating the obvious differences between the genders in many facets of life. And, while you are more likely to die with prostate cancer than of it, breast cancer in its very many variations is a life-long concern.  

While I don't want to be accused of shooting the messenger, I suggest the researchers revise their methodology and drill down to the core results to find useful ways in which doctors can better serve their patients. I believe the  extent of the desire for medical information, particularly, proves a) we are all not told enough about the various aspects of our diseases, and b) smart patients realise they must be their own advocates in negotiating their way out of their medical dilemmas. 

cp418

Traveltext - Thank you for a very thoughtful realistic reply. You put the topic in a far better perspective than the Sloan article.

Fallleaves

This study just reminds of me of Victorian days, when females were thought to be given to fits of "hysteria". I've never been one for sexual stereotypes (hated "Men are from Mars, Women from Venus"). There could be value in assessing how information can best be transmitted to PEOPLE based on personality type, however. When I first met with a radiation oncologist, her nurse asked me how I liked to receive information, which was the first and only time anyone ever asked me that. I said, "I'm a numbers person. I need to know specific numbers for probabilities to base my decisions on." When side effects are brought up, it's useless to me unless I can figure out how large or small a risk it is (i.e. how many women out of 1,000 will this happen to?) Now, that's me. If other people get a bunch of numbers, it could just overwhelm them and /or confuse them. So, there is some value in figuring out at the outset the best means of communication. Some people might say, less is more. Just give me what YOUR best guess is. Others might say, please explain the pros and cons every step of the way, and the scientific basis for them. Also, some people process written information better, others aural information. There are various aspects to information sharing.

Traveltext

Rather than generalising about why men and women post on different medical forums, I'd suggest to the authors of this study that they come on this forum and ask women why they post here. 

BarredOwl

Hi TravelText:

They should hire you. I agree that while breast cancer and prostate cancer may have some similarities, they are really quite different in many ways.

The fact that a lot of women seek to learn from the real-world experiences of other women or that they include qualitative considerations in their decision-making (which can be wise to do) does not mean that their medical decisions are not well-founded. The presence of emotional intelligence does not indicate an absence logic in either men or women. I would think these boards provide ample evidence that women also wish to be informed about consensus guidelines for treatment and the scientific research available regarding various treatment options and interventions.

BarredOwl