VDM Verlag Rare and Tragic: Young Women Diagnosed with Advanced Breast Cancer: A discourse analysis

Breast cancer is an increasingly common condition, and despite its familiarity within everyday conversations, the word 'breast cancer' continues to instil fear into the lives of many individuals. Even though breast cancer is usually associated with women over 50 years of age, there are significant numbers of younger women who die of this disease each year. Tragically, breast cancer in young women tends to have a poor prognosis. The reasons for this discrepancy are unclear, but it may be that a different tumour biology is involved. Whilst breast cancer in general has been the target of a vast amount of research and public debate, values and beliefs surrounding advanced breast cancer have not been a focus of concern. This book therefore innovatively explores these values and beliefs, their impact and consequences, surrounding this life-limiting illness that have been perpetuated and sustained over time. This book sheds new light on the nature of advanced disease in young women as they go about their daily struggle for survival. It should be useful to all health professionals involved in cancer and palliative care, as well as anyone else touched by this disease.