Sexualizing Cancer: HPV and the Politics of Cancer Prevention

The HPV vaccine has changed how we think about cancer and its causes, as well as how we talk about sex and its risks. Laura Mamo's book "Sexualizing Cancer" chronicles the journey of cervical cancer from exam rooms to public discourse, showing how the scientific breakthrough that identified the virus as having a causative role in the onset of human cancer galvanized sexual politics, struggles for inclusion, new at-risk populations, and a new regime of cancer prevention.

Format: Hardback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 20 December 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

The virus that revolutionized our understanding of cancer and its causes, as well as the vaccine that altered our discourse on sex and its risks, began to take shape in 2005. People in the United States and Europe were bombarded with media coverage revealing the connection between cervical cancer and the sexually transmitted virus HPV. Within a year, product advertisements promoted a vaccine specifically designed to target the viral cause of cancer, and girls and women eagerly embraced this new cancer vaccine. As our understanding of HPV's association with other cancers expanded, new at-risk populations, including boys and men, were identified, sparking a multitude of gender and sexual issues related to cancer prevention.

Sexualizing Cancer is a groundbreaking book that delves into the emergence and widespread adoption of the HPV vaccine, along with the medical capability to screen for HPV. This pivotal development in cancer prevention is based on a novel understanding of the relationship between sex and chronic disease. Through captivating accounts from the fields of biomedical science, public health, and social justice, Laura Mamo chronicles the journey of cervical cancer from the confines of exam rooms to the forefront of public discourse. She reveals how the late twentieth-century scientific breakthrough that identified the human papilloma virus as the causative factor in human cancer ignited a surge of sexual politics, struggles for inclusion, the emergence of new at-risk populations, and ultimately, the establishment of a new regime of cancer prevention.

Mamo intricately weaves together narratives from these various realms to expose how gender and other equity arguments within scientific, medical, and advocacy communities shaped vaccine guidelines, clinical trial funding, research practices, and clinical programs. These decisions have had far-reaching consequences that continue to resonate today. This book serves as a vital historical account of medical expansion, from a "woman's disease" to a diverse set of cancers that affect individuals of all genders. It also sheds light on the persistent sexist and gender biases that have persisted throughout this journey, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to promote equity and inclusivity in cancer prevention and care.

In conclusion, Sexualizing Cancer is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the profound impact of the HPV vaccine and its implications for cancer prevention, gender equality, and public health. By exploring the complex interplay between science, medicine, and society, this book provides a valuable perspective on the historical and ongoing challenges faced in the fight against cancer.

Weight: 626g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226829272