Early Detection: Women, Cancer, and Awareness Campaigns in the Twentieth-Century United States

Dispelling the common notion that American female cancer activism is a post-1970s phenomenon, Gardner traces women's cancer education campaigns back to the inception of the American Society of the Control of Cancer in 1913. Focusing on breast cancer, but using research on cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers as well, Gardner's examination of films, publications, health fairs, and archival materials shows that women have long promoted early cancer detection. While informing female audiences about cancer risks, these early activists also laid the groundwork for the political advocacy and patient empowerment movements of recent decades.