Terrorized By The ‘War On Cancer’

November 27, 2009 · Filed Under general · 40 Comments

How a Three-Word Mantra Has Undermined America’s Ability To Make Sound Healthcare Decisions

with apologies to Zbigniew Brzezinski

In his original article about the war on terror Brzezinski argues that the use of the term War on Terror was intended to generate a culture of fear deliberately because it “obscures reason, intensifies emotions and makes it easier for demagogic politicians to mobilize the public on behalf of the policies they want to pursue”.

Following the release of new breast cancer screening recommendations we have just experienced an historical case of “moral panic” producing a never ending volley of denialism, distortions and abuse of expert clinical recommendations. I believe that the genesis of this abuse dates back to 1971 and that Brzezinsky’s article is a must read for anyone interested in understanding how the culture of fear helps to destroy rational discourse about healthcare reform.

A Militaristic Outlook

It has been 38 years since Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act and he and Senator Ted Kennedy declared the “war on cancer”. From that moment a whole set of military/religious metaphors have been used to speak of cancer and of the treatments available and even to explain mindsets of patients. These metaphors have become deeply ingrained in the national psyche. Unfortunately, “in war, truth is the first casualty,” and, as we have seen in the last 2 weeks this is particularly true when politics, emotions and science are added as a deadly mix to create an irrational discourse.

Tags: breast cancer, Breast Cancer Screening, Brzezinski, Clinical Recommendations, Culture Of Fear, Distortions, First Casualty, Healthcare Decisions, Healthcare Reform, Metaphors, Mindsets, Moral Panic, National Cancer Act, National Psyche, Rational Discourse, Richard Nixon, Screening Recommendations, Senator Ted Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, War On Terror, Zbigniew Brzezinski