Why women hide the fact that they have cancer and the implications
THE INCIDENCE of some women hiding the fact that they have breast cancer appears to be very high in Jamaica, based on anecdotal evidence. The reasons for doing so are varied and are dependent, to some extent, on the social, economic, and emotional state of the individual in question.
Hiding the disease could have far-reaching implications for those affected, in particular, for those who opt for non-traditional treatments.
According to the Chairman of Jamaica Reach to Recovery, Carolind Graham, the fact that breasts are a major defining feature of womanhood is a major reason why some women hide the disease from even their closest relatives.
“Unlike men, who do not change dramatically (outwardly) during puberty, except for the growing of facial hair, which can be removed, women develop breasts and wider hips. These are permanent features that state categorically, ‘We are women,’” Graham reasoned as she responded to questions from The Gleaner.
She continued: “When you are now faced with the possibility of losing a breast, it challenges how you see yourself and how you think others will see you. This, in turn, leads to questions such as ‘What caused it? Was it something I did or did not do?’”
Graham said that there is, sometimes, an irrational shame that causes women to hide the disease from even their own families.
FROM ALL SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS
The chairman, whose work at Jamaica Reach to Recovery brings her into regular contact with breast cancer survivors, was quick to point out that women who hide the fact that they have cancer are found across all social and economic groups since the disease does not discriminate. She said that what is different among these women is the difference in the questions they often ask about why they have the disease.
Graham noted that across all strata, women who are emotionally insecure are more likely to hide that they have cancer. “Corporate women often cannot understand how this could happen to them based on their education, financial status, and position in society. [They think] breast cancer is something that should not happen to them.”