6 cultural resources to better understand breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, accounting for 33% of all cancers in women. Nearly 80% of breast cancer cases occur after the age of 50. In France, it is estimated that in 2023, there will be approximately 61,214 new cases of breast cancer, representing an annual increase of 0.3% since 2010 ( National Cancer Institute ).

So much for the numbers. Yet, beyond the statistics, breast cancer is a daily reality for tens of thousands of women. It affects the body, but also the family, one's perception of the world, one's relationship with oneself, and often awakens uncomfortable emotions. In this article, we offer some resources to help you better understand this ordeal that touches us all, directly or indirectly. 

The gourmet life

Aurélia Aurita is a confirmed epicurean. With La vie gourmande , she recounts a personal drama by taking the paths of taste and intimacy.

Throughout the 360 pages of this book, Aurélia blends black and white drawings with those bursting with vibrant colors. This evokes a subtle form of action where the life force pushes back the death that surrounds the author's life: first the death of her Cambodian grandmother, then the arrival of cancer in her daily life.

Yet, this graphic novel is an ode to life and its pleasures . It shares her olfactory and culinary memories, good and not so good, from fast food to Michelin-starred restaurants, by way of Japanese cuisine, the food of her lovers, and her childhood memories. A graphic gem to be savored without moderation!

Fuck my cancer

In 2013, Manuela met Carlo, also known as Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, a form of breast cancer. Her food blog quickly transformed into a journal of her fight against the disease, but also against the overly rosy image often portrayed as cancer.

Quickly, Fuck my cancer became a full-fledged blog with the slogan "Breast cancer isn't all roses." There, she recorded her rants and feelings, often funny and never tearful. Her "troublemaker" story resonated with many other patients who recognized themselves in her anger and defiance.

The author quickly rallied a following around her difficult experience as a patient, to the point that FMC became a book. She presents the work as an almost selfish therapeutic exercise that makes no claim to give lessons, educate, or even advise. And it feels good. 

Impatient

Maëlle was 30 years old when she learned she had metastatic breast cancer , considered incurable. Undergoing continuous treatment for three years, she gradually experienced the unexpected pressure to prioritize femininity as the primary concern in the face of this disease that kills 12,000 women a year in France.

Drawing on his own experience, and by meeting with other patients, oncologists, surgeons, psychologists, as well as associations, social workers, entrepreneurs, pharmaceutical laboratories and political figures, this documentary podcast talks about everything that lies beyond the numbers.

Its seven episodes challenge the stereotypical narrative surrounding breast cancer and question society's gender expectations of patients. Winner of the 2019 Scam Award for Best Documentary Podcast , Impatiente invites us all to break free from apathy and fight together against the disease of the century.

My mom is a pirate

When breast cancer strikes a family , it's often difficult to explain it to young children. We want to protect them from the suffering and loss, while also wanting to explain why Mommy is changing, month after month.

With "My Mom is a Pirate ," Karine Surugue offers a suitable resource for talking to children about illness . With its clever metaphors and beautiful illustrations, the book boldly addresses the various aspects of breast cancer and the consequences of treatments.

The premise? A little boy recounts the adventures of his pirate mom. Every week, she sets sail to bravely face the storms! 

The dragon's breath

In Reims, a group of women, some undergoing treatment, others in remission, have come together for a rather unusual sporting activity: dragon boat racing . This discipline was carefully prescribed by their oncologist. While these women don't know each other, they are all united by the same desire: to overcome their illness . With paddle strokes and rallying cries, they are trying to rebuild themselves from body to mind.

This TV movie, directed by Stéphanie Pillonca, is based on a true story. It successfully captures moments of sisterhood and lightheartedness amidst the gravity of the situation. Watch it on replay on M6 .

Those who do not die

To round out this selection, we offer you nothing less than a Pulitzer Prize winner. Those Who Do Not Die is an essay on breast cancer that is as poetic as it is philosophical.

"If this book were to exist, I wanted it to be a minor form of restorative magic. I wanted the lost pieces of our bodies to regenerate through its sentences and the elegance of its ideas to amplify our cells. If I could open the earth with writing, I would, and I would bring back to life an army of these dead, rebellious women."

With this powerful and unclassifiable work, Anne Boyer candidly recounts the many emotional states of a woman with cancer. Her writing, both vulnerable and subversive, helps us better understand what our loved ones going through when faced with illness . For women with breast cancer, it is a comforting read , one that leaves you feeling less alone in your struggle after finishing it.

Whether you are a person diagnosed or a loved one, we hope these resources will be valuable in complementing medical information. These few references invite you to explore creations made by women living with cancer. Use them as allies to navigate the different facets of breast cancer . For any other information related to breast cancer, the League Against Cancer and the National Cancer Institute are reliable sources.