In Anne Boyer’s The Undying, she discusses how the “non-common literary form” of breast cancer neglects to mention the significance of factors such as the impact of misogyny in medicine, capitalism’s impersonal pursuit of profit, racist and classist divides, and the general mention of suffering and death at all. Although all of these aspects must be further emphasized when discussing breast cancer, I was particularly struck by her emphasis on the absence of discussing suffering and the potential negative health consequences of breast cancer. I believe this largely sets apart her memoir from “common” discourse about breast cancer especially in considering breast cancer commercials wherein, as Melanie mentioned, there seems to be a great deal of support and positivity expressed, but the individual painful experiences of people with breast cancer are left out. Boyer does not leave behind the graphic and painfully raw aspects of experiencing breast cancer in her memoir and in doing so seems to be acting as a part of the “coming together” of those with breast cancer to invent the “sufficient language” to speak of one’s suffering with that is sought after in exposure to medicine, but often not found. This reminded me of a recent case wherein a commercial by Frida Mom was denied approval for showing during the Oscars by ABC this year due to it being apparently “too graphic.” The commercial was for postpartum recovery products for new mothers and included a scene wherein an exhausted new mom is woken by her child at night and gets up with padded underwear to refill a peri bottle in the bathroom while clearly in pain. This advertisement is not violent, political, or sexual in nature and is not outright religious or portraying weapons, but feminine hygiene and pain relief seem to be banned as well. It is not too graphic, it is not trying to manipulate, it is real. As Boyer notes, people with breast cancer are seeking to understand the reality of what they are facing and medical institutions often don’t provide a true picture, leaving no preparation for the reality that will ultimately be faced, yet it seems that when medical companies such as Frida Mom do try to provide a true picture of suffering for women, it is not allowed. This all seems to lead back to discussing who the public narrative of breast cancer is for. It should not just be for the survivors, friends and family of those with breast cancer, and general public, but should be for those experiencing it and currently suffering. By denying a true representation, suffering included, of breast cancer I believe these individuals are denied the subject matter they are seeking and deserve.