Listen to Her, Listen to Them: A Patient-Centered Ethnography of Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer, medically characterized by the abnormal growth of cells in the breast area, lies at the intersection of genetic, environmental, social, and cultural factors. Based on ethnographic research conducted in Honolulu, Hawaii, in July and August of 2021, this thesis contextualizes Asian American women’s breast cancer encounters within broader biomedical, anthropological, historical, and feminist literatures. This thesis explores the influence of Asian American culture and context on these women’s experiences, as well as the implications of being a female navigating this predominantly gendered disease. Ultimately, this thesis attempts to complicate perceptions of health and illness, deepening our knowledge of breast cancer through uplifting patient voices and narratives.