Breast Cancer: Silence and Invisibility

So far this semester, we have discussed the problem of silence several times and how it affects society's understanding of certain medical issues. I found that Lordes' approach to the problem of silence surrounding breast cancer fascinating, in that it has a profound effect both on women living with cancer, and also on access to information about cancer treatment. The emphasis upon the need for prosthesis that Lordes describes becomes an emphasis on silencing the reality that women whose lives are in danger because of cancer must have their breast(s) removed. Society tries to persuade cancer victims, in an attempt to maintain optimism, that they can be the same person after their mastectomy. However, this creates an understanding that women without prostheses are anomalous. Lordes example of how the Israeli politician with his eye patch is considered a warrior, but one-breasted women are made to feel abnormal.
This type of silence forces cancer victims to aim towards a sense of invisibility - they can be the same with cancer as they were without. Even more atrocious is the attitude of the American Cancer Society toward holistic treatments. The silencing of all information that deviates from the western medical bias is tragic, for cancer patients lose control over the spectrum of treatments that might help them conquer their disease. Lordes expresses the importance of overcoming both aspects of this silence: "we must pierce this silence ourselves and aggressively seek answers to these questions about new therapies" (75).