Examining the Media's Coverage of Breast Cancer

Researchers at Michigan State University presented an interesting look at the media in regards to breast cancer in a paper published in the latest edition of the Journal of Health Communication.

National media coverage was examined over a two year period. Thirty one percent of the stories dealing with breast cancer focused on treatment, while only eighteen percent focused on prevention.

The concern is that women may get complacent regarding breast cancer because they believe that a cure may soon be discovered with all the break-through research currently being done. 

Many articles focus on breast cancer patients and their struggles, which are very compelling and interesting to viewers, but lack the information women need to further the cause of cancer prevention.  According to the researchers, articles on eating healthy and exercising make for very boring stories.

When you think about it, we are very influenced by what we hear and see in the media.  Breast cancer survivor stories are a true source of inspiration for myself and continually remind me of how fortunate I am each and every day. 

While we, as women, have little or no control over many of the risk factors for breast cancer---like our age and our family history---there are many steps we can take to lower our overall risk of cancer.

Exercise, eating right and avoiding certain substances in the environment that are known to contribute to breast cancer, do make less than captivating articles, but perhaps the media is indeed underestimating us. 

I know that sometimes I tend to skip over or speed read some articles that contain information regarding cancer prevention. But I also know many brave women face the very real diagnosis of breast cancer everyday.

So, we owe it to ourselves, our children and our society as a whole to fight this cancer from both sides, not only with treatment, but also with as many preventative measures that we currently know of.