Cancer Screening Overkill

It seems to me that in our society we have this huge problem with illness and death. I've heard a number of reasons for it and have also been told that, although other cultures may seem to have a laissez-faire attitude towards illness and death, they really don't. I'd guess that the truth is somewhere inbetween the explanations I've been given.

That said, there seem to be an everflowing number of ways that we in the U.S. try to insulate themselves from the possibility of illness and death (antibacterial this and that, safety records for nearly everything, the Culture of Fear (a term which I use differently than many of my peers) in general) and inculcate in others the need to keep as safe and healthy as possible. We see this in the products on our shelves and the commercials on the television and other ways as well.

Once of the biggest fears is cancer. It's pretty obvious why this is feared. Cancer is a horrible thing to get and a terrible way to die (I've had two people very close to me die of cancer and they didn't think it was too hot, themselves). Many people live with the impression that it is the greatest killer in the US (it isn't) and that they can completely control it (they can't). One of the big things recently, from celebrity endorsements to multiple ad campaigns, is cancer screenings.

"Get screened and get cured quickly," the ads tell us. "It can never hurt to be screened and you could be saving your own life."

Well, it seems that isn't quite so accurate. A recent article in Wired tells us that cancer screening isn't the glory road to perfect health as it's made out to be by all of the marketing.

Of course, the ads worry people and fear increases and cancer screening companies will continue to make money off of people's fears rather than from genuine need and the true Culture of Fear, one that has nothing to do with Bush or terrorists, will continue to grow.