In this study, we use textual interpretation and criticism to examine the year-long fictional portrayal of a personal ordeal with ovarian cancer on the prime-time weekly dramatic series thirtysomething. The analysis revealed seven major themes that conveyed value-laden messages about living and coping with this disease; the meanings of these messages, in turn, contribute to the development of an ideological construction of illness. "Take-home messages" include emphasis on cancer as a disease of the family, the destigmatization of people with cancer, and the centrality of communication as a coping strategy. Issues that were excluded, missed opportunities for health messages, and future policy-related concerns are also discussed.
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Sharf et al. (1993) studied this question.
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