Contesting the C Word: The Diagnosis of DCIS and Women's Resistance Against Overtreatment

DCIS, or ductal carcinoma in situ-also known as Stage 0 breast cancer-accounts for approximately 20 per cent of new breast cancer cases. Although it is noninvasive, treatment typically mirrors that of invasive cancer. Whether DCIS is overtreated remains controversial, even among medical professionals. This study analyses discussions within a Facebook group of women diagnosed with DCIS who have declined the standard of care (SOC). The findings suggest that these women hold contrasting views on cancer risk compared to their healthcare providers. Although doctors focus on the potential for DCIS to progress to invasive cancer, the women emphasise the higher likelihood of nonprogression. Their considerations of alternative treatments are often dismissed by medical professionals, heightening the stress of an already anxiety-inducing diagnosis. This online community provides affirmation and support to those who choose holistic approaches to manage their condition. However, rejecting the SOC shifts the responsibility for healing onto the individual. These women must engage in vigilant self-surveillance, maintain strict healthy lifestyles and uphold an optimistic outlook-demands that require significant physical discipline and emotion work. This case carries important implications for both sociological research and medical practice.