Politics and Breast Cancer

I was saddened to hear that Elizabeth Edwards is dealing with news that her breast cancer has returned and has metastasized. However, I have mixed feelings about how public discussion is currently centered around how her Stage IV metastatic breast cancer may be regarded as controllable. The article linked above offers potential medical interventions that may help control her disease and hopefully extend her life. This of course would be a wonderful thing--but let's not forget that they enjoy a privilege that millions of middle-class and poor Americans do not--comprehensive health insurance coverage and access to excellent medical care. Women with no insurance or inadequate insurance who present with stage 4 breast cancer with mets will likely be referred to hospice--not to an oncologist who can supervise a regimen of cutting-edge and expensive chemotherapies.

Does anyone else find it positively stunning to hear this type of cancer likened to living with a chronic disease like diabetes? How many women with any type of serious and potentially life-limiting diagnosis can say, "I don't expect my life to be significantly different"? Is she putting on a brave front for her children, her family, her husband's campaign, or is she speaking confidently and without artifice from a place of jaw-dropping but normative privilege and advantage? The truth is that I too have excellent health insurance and would likely have access to treatment for a similiar, if not identical diagnosis (although possibly not the same level of care). It is a reminder of my own privilege.

As much as I wish Elizabeth Edwards well--I think this must be politicized. How this country elects officials who create room in the budget for marriage and other "faith-based initiatives" but see no moral laxity in enormous disparities when it comes to access to health care, education, housing, etc, is beyond me. I'll be greatly disappointed if Mr. and Mrs. Edwards do not "take advantage" of this situation to raise these and other questions in their bid for the White House.