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A woman is far more likely to die of hea...
A woman is far more likely to die of hea... / 5:53 PM - Tuesday October 14, 2003
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An Intellectual Guy (Male, Phoenix, 36-45) asked:


A woman is far more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer, but women seem much more concerned with breast cancer. Is this generally true? If so, why? I'm not at all critisizing, I really want to understand the viewpoint. Thanks.


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A Career Woman (Female, New Orleans, 29-35, Executive) answered:

Screenname: floridahoney


As silly as this is going to sound, I would wager a bet that most women are more concerned with breast cancer because our breasts are an outward manisfestation of our beauty. Never mind the fact that we can't live without a heart...lol! Seriously though, women are in tune with their breasts from pre-adolescence until death. We know the power that our breasts have over men and other women and that is why we agonize over them so. I wish women would focus more on other forms of cancer that are running rampant, as well as heart disease and AIDS, but until someone lessens the affect of breasts on men, you can forget it. Sad isn't it? I hope this helps!

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A Life of the Party (Female, Seattle, 29-35, Self-Employed) answered:

Screenname: leasee


Personally I think it is because if not detected early enough, you will die very quick with breast cancer. With heart disease, that is usually someting diagnosed early on in your life and takes much longer to actually kill you. Also, you will usually know that there is something wrong with you when you have issues with your heart... With breast cancer, you might never know you were sick until it's too late.
I hope I've answered your question.

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A Thinker (Female) answered:

Screenname: olefashungrl


I think it's because women perceive that they have more control over heart disease. If they exercise, keep down their weight and blood pressure, eat healthily, etc, they think they can probably not be affected. Whereas the risk factors in breast cancer are not so known or might be impossible to change (family history, pregnancy after age 30, early mensis onset, etc). I think people also see heart disease as more treatable and less disfiguring than breast cancer. I think in general, people are less frightened of a risk they think they have control over versus a risk they have no control over. (ie flying is safer than driving, but a lot of people are afraid to fly because it's out of their hands)

That's a good question. You are absolutely right. I hope this helps a little.

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A Player (Female, Chicago, 29-35, Teaching) answered:

Screenname: lips


Very simply, money. More media attention, charity events, and research dollars go towards breast cancer. There's the pink-ribbon-on-your-lap el camaraderie. There is no heart disease awareness ribbon, or anything targeted directly at women to compel them to be more concerned.

And there you have them, my two cents.


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A Hippie Chick (Female, Los Angeles, 22-25, Medical / Dental) answered:

Screenname: dipnoi


Really? I didn't know that that was the case. Well if what you're saying is true, then it might have something to do with the fact that breast cancer is more noticable than heart disease. It's easier to feel a lump on the breast than to sense one's cholesterol level is too high. Also, developing heart disease is a poor choice in lifestyle. Whereas, developing breast cancer, is by chance. I don't know if this helps.

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A Sweet Sarah (Female, Atlanta, 29-35, Food Service) answered:

Screenname: fayep20


because you guys are so obsessed with our breasts and if we didn't have them you wouldn't look at us twice. heart disease you can hide, no breasts is something different.

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A Sweet Sarah (Female, New York, 36-45, Financial / Banking) answered:

Screenname: late30girlie


Men are paranoid about hair less as opposed to heart disease. Vanity - deformity, acceptance all enter the picture

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