Contesting the C Word: The Diagnosis of DCIS and Women’s Resistance against Overtreatment

• In Event: 20820 - Section on Medical Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 20. Patient Experiences and Diagnostic Processes I

Abstract

DCIS, or ductal carcinoma in situ, also known as stage 0 breast cancer, accounts for approximately 20 percent of new breast cancer cases. Although non-invasive, its treatment is typically the same as that for invasive cancer. About 40 percent of women with DCIS undergo mastectomy. Whether DCIS is overtreated remains a topic of controversy, even among medical professionals. This study analyses discussions within a Facebook group of women diagnosed with DCIS who have declined the standard of care (SOC). The findings suggest that these women hold contrasting views on cancer risk compared to their healthcare providers. While doctors focus on the potential for DCIS to progress to invasive cancer, the women emphasize the higher likelihood that it will not. Their considerations for alternative treatments are often dismissed by medical professionals, exacerbating the stress of an already anxious diagnosis. This online community offers understanding, affirmation, and support to women who choose a “wait and see” approach, along with holistic methods to manage their breast health. This case highlights important implications for understanding biomedicalization and the social consequences of diagnosis.

Author

• Chien-Juh Gu, Western Michigan University