Directing the senses in the contemporary orientations to cancer disease control: Debating symptom research

Abstract

This paper discusses ongoing changes in orientations to cancer disease control in the Global North, particularly health promoter attempts to identify the early cancerous body. The paper suggests that the emphasis on early diagnosis of cancer aligns ideas on a symptomatic management of the public with a process in which ‘what counts as cancer symptoms’ is steadily being subdivided, classified and expanded. This alignment, the paper suggests, is an example of how biomedicine potentially extends its boundaries into everyday forms of embodied, social life by changing the social and moral value placed on bodily sensations. Also, the paper echoes ongoing conversations in medical anthropology on symptom experiences; suggesting that symptom experiences may be a suitable analytic axiom for exploring the relationship between biomedical knowledge production and embodied experience. It is suggested that an anthropology of sensations is a useful analytical framework for such explorations.

It is important that the process goes quickly, isn't it?” A qualitative multi-country study of colorectal or lung cancer patients' narratives of the timeliness of diagnosis and quality of care

“…Past research has shown that good healthcare experiences are related to patients' ability to narrate and contextualise their understandings (Bury, 1982;Frank, 2002;Levealahti et al, 2007;Lindqvist et al, 2008;Rasmussen and Elverdam, 2007). However, navigating through healthcare systems, with clinics at different sites (Brown et al, 2014), opaque medical language and specialised knowledge (Andersen, 2017;Salmon and Young, 2017), can present difficulties and opportunities for confusion.…”

The convivial and the pastoral in patient–doctor relationships: a multi‐country study of patient stories of care, choice and medical authority in cancer diagnostic processes

“…), as not all participants were able to provide information on their diagnostic stage and we did not have access to participants’ medical records. Similarly, there has been considerable investment in the processes and practices around diagnosis and treatments for cancer – from widespread public awareness campaigns to diagnostic pathways such as 2‐week wait etc – that may differentiate patient experiences of the healthcare system (Andersen , Rubin et al . , Ziebland et al .…”

“…). However, those interventions have also served to increase the complexity of embodied knowledge and practices around cancer diagnostic processes (Andersen , Kerr et al . , Ziebland et al .…”

Psychosocial consequences of a three-month follow-up after receiving an abnormal lung cancer CT-screening result: A longitudinal survey

“…Further, a comprehensive analysis of healthcare costs in DLCST participants showed that the CT group and the control group had significantly increased total healthcare costs, calculated at 60 % and 48 % respectively when they were compared to a random sample of current or former heavy smokers in the general Danish population, who had never been invited to participate in lung cancer screening [23]. This may be associated with the process, described by Andersen and colleagues, where the emphasis on early diagnosis changes the way bodily sensations are interpreted by the public -'what counts as cancer symptoms' is steadily being subdivided, classified and expanded [24]. Therefore, even though the control group only received annual lung function test and smoking counselling they were continuously reminded about their smoking-and health status.…”