Editing 931: Lanes
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| − | + | [[xkcd]] [[tagline|is a]] webcomic of [[:Category:Romance|romance]], [[:Category:Sarcasm|sarcasm]], [[:Category:Math|math]], and [[:Category:Language|language]]; humor isn't necessarily guaranteed. This comic is an example of that, it being severely depressing. | |
| − | This whole [[:Category:Cancer|cancer series]] was sparked because [[Randall]]'s then-fiancee, now wife | + | The comic is built around a dialogue between two friends (we'll call them Cueball, and Conversant) about cancer, presumably cancer that [[Megan]] has been diagnosed with. The conversation itself is about as straightforward as a conversation can be. It details the maturation of [[Cueball]]'s and [[Megan]]'s understanding of cancer diagnoses, knowledge which we can presume he has gained, reluctantly, by watching a loved one suffer. |
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| + | This whole [[:Category:Cancer|cancer series]] was sparked because [[Randall]]'s then-fiancee, now wife is currently in Megan's position, and we, the readers, are now the beneficiaries of this new understanding of cancer diagnoses without having to watch somebody close to us suffer. | ||
The comic's title, Lanes, comes from the two panels which illustrate both ends of the spectrum of Cueball's mental representation of how cancer treatment proceeds. In that there are many possible outcomes for cancer treatment, the image of a multi-lane freeway seems an apt metaphor to represent this understanding visually. | The comic's title, Lanes, comes from the two panels which illustrate both ends of the spectrum of Cueball's mental representation of how cancer treatment proceeds. In that there are many possible outcomes for cancer treatment, the image of a multi-lane freeway seems an apt metaphor to represent this understanding visually. | ||
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In the first freeway diagram, there are several paths, but the system is very simple, and easy to take in. Only a few lanes lead off into the oblivion which surrounds the freeway, a single off-ramp circles back from the path to survival to treatment, and survival is a visible endpoint. | In the first freeway diagram, there are several paths, but the system is very simple, and easy to take in. Only a few lanes lead off into the oblivion which surrounds the freeway, a single off-ramp circles back from the path to survival to treatment, and survival is a visible endpoint. | ||
| − | In the second freeway diagram, however, things are much, much more complex, and much more bleak. Even six years out, survival isn't visible, and many lanes end in oblivion, sometimes not veering off for years after treatment. The title text informs us that this is meant to be loosely representative of breast cancer stages one through four, proceeding by quarters from left to right. | + | In the second freeway diagram, however, things are much, much more complex, and much more bleak. Even six years out, survival isn't visible, and many lanes end in oblivion, sometimes not veering off for years after treatment. The title text informs us that this is meant to be loosely representative of breast cancer stages one through four, proceeding by quarters from left to right. It's a grim outlook, hence Conversant's understated but completely fitting reaction to this plethora of new knowledge. |
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| + | Specific numbers: there are 52 lanes, so 13 lanes per cancer stage. | ||
| − | + | Stage one has a 1:13 =~8% chance of recurrence leading to death within 6 years. | |
| + | Stage 2 has a 5:13=~38% chance. | ||
| + | Stage 3 has a 7:13=~54% chance. | ||
| + | Stage 4 has an 11:13=~85% chance of death within 6 years. | ||
| − | + | Given Randall's concern, these numbers are probably pretty accurate. Go get a mammogram. | |
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| − | + | Fuck cancer. | |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
:[The panels are arranged top to bottom. The first is set above a larger image.] | :[The panels are arranged top to bottom. The first is set above a larger image.] | ||
| − | : | + | :Conversant: So, are you guys out of the woods? |
:Cueball: We don't know. | :Cueball: We don't know. | ||
| − | : | + | :Conversant: Well, did the treatment work? |
:Cueball: We don't know. | :Cueball: We don't know. | ||
| − | + | :Cueball (off-panel): I always assumed that when you got cancer, they gave you a prognosis, then treated you, and at the end of treatment either you beat it or you died. | |
| − | :Cueball: I always assumed that when you got cancer, they gave you a prognosis, then treated you, and at the end of treatment either you beat it or you died. | + | :[The diagram shows a simple highway. Starting at the bottom, with diagnosis for five lanes, the road travels through a cloud of treatment, after which two lanes disappear, and three continue. Later on, there's another offramp labeled 'cancer "comes back"', which loops back into the treatment cloud. Otherwise, the highway enters a later cloud called survive.] |
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| − | :[The diagram shows a simple highway. Starting at the bottom, with diagnosis for five lanes, the road travels through a cloud of treatment, after which two lanes disappear, and three continue. Later on, there's another | ||
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:Cueball: And I knew sometimes it "recurred," which I assumed meant back to square one. | :Cueball: And I knew sometimes it "recurred," which I assumed meant back to square one. | ||
:Cueball: But that's turned out not to be quite right. | :Cueball: But that's turned out not to be quite right. | ||
| − | :[Back to | + | :[Back to the two people.] |
:Cueball: Once most cancers spread out into your body, they're incurable. | :Cueball: Once most cancers spread out into your body, they're incurable. | ||
:Cueball: If your 10-year prognosis is 60%, that means a 40% chance that some cancer will slip past the treatment and get out. | :Cueball: If your 10-year prognosis is 60%, that means a 40% chance that some cancer will slip past the treatment and get out. | ||
| − | :[The frame zooms | + | :[The frame zooms just to show the second person.] |
:Cueball: So they kill all the cancer they can find, and then you're a "survivor." But your odds are still 60%. | :Cueball: So they kill all the cancer they can find, and then you're a "survivor." But your odds are still 60%. | ||
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:Cueball: They can't scan for individual cancer cells. The only way to know if it worked is to wait for tumors to pop up elsewhere. | :Cueball: They can't scan for individual cancer cells. The only way to know if it worked is to wait for tumors to pop up elsewhere. | ||
:Cueball: If you go enough years without that happening then you were in the 60%. | :Cueball: If you go enough years without that happening then you were in the 60%. | ||
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:[There's an extra large panel, with a small one floating inside it.] | :[There's an extra large panel, with a small one floating inside it.] | ||
| − | :[The panel shows fifty | + | :[The panel shows roughly fifty lanes emerging from the cloud of 'Treatment'. Signs show 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years. Lanes branch off and fade into darkness earlier on the right, with some lanes continuing off the top of the panel.] |
:[Inset panel.] | :[Inset panel.] | ||
| − | : | + | :Conversant: Man. |
| − | : | + | :Conversant: Fuck cancer. |
:Cueball: ''Seriously.'' | :Cueball: ''Seriously.'' | ||
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[[Category:Biology]] | [[Category:Biology]] | ||
[[Category:Psychology]] | [[Category:Psychology]] | ||
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