There's a move to call breast cancer in men chest cancer

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Traveltext
Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
edited February 2021 in Male Breast Cancer

Believe it or not, a recently treated guy is wanting to push the idea that changing the title of breast cancer to chest cancer would help newly diagnosed men come to terms with their diagnosis. Here's my take on the plan.

https://advancedbreastcancer.net/living/male-bc-aw...

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  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited February 2021

    Your post summed up what I was feeling--this specific cancer is breast cancer, and you're right. To call it chest cancer is at best confusing. I'm so glad you wrote about this.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited February 2021

    We don’t call prostate or vulvar cancer crotch cancer, nor rectal cancer butt cancer.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited February 2021

    Ah, it's not just a recently treated guy, it's a guy with access to a public platform. That's unfortunate.

    Traveltext, your article is excellent. There are lots of issues, for both men and women, in how breast cancer is presented to the public. Changing the name of the disease when the person diagnosed is a male doesn't address or resolve any of these issues.


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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited February 2021

    Yes, that's the worry. Worse, he uses his honorary academic title (Dr) to put his case, which gives false medical credibility. All the patient advocates I know hate the term. I mean, why would you lose the connection with all those supportive women and a huge research industry which is looking fornew and better drugs.


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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited February 2021

    Well. When I see DR before a name in an article on medical issues, I assume it's a physician. If not, it needs a disclaimer or not to be used. Chest cancer, jeez. In medical terms, doesn't chest refer to internal rather than external organs? Mr. Knowles, you have breasts. Just because you have a bizarre, misogynist hangup about the name, don't screw things up for other people.


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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2021

    Well... Is this jumping on some new inclusivity movement to call breastfeeding, chestfeeding? I mean, even if you are transgender you still have breast tissue regardless.

    Chest cancer sounds like something in the sternum, in the bones, it the lungs, or near the heart... It's so nonspecific.

    Melissa, I like your take on it.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2021

    To Mr. Knowles - Men do indeed have breasts, the English language recognizes this. Do not continue “beating your breast” over this trivial issue

    image

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited February 2021

    Great article Rod!!! Thanks for posting and sharing that! quite confusing and the idea of changing the name reinforces stigma - it's coming from a place of embarrassment/shame....that is what needs addressed!

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