Because then I would write a graphic novel about cancer, and unfortunately, the stick figure market is already cornered. Despite all of the cancer publications out there, a web comic or graphic novel are not among them. Maybe because people think it’s too depressing? But it can be so hilarious…
I was the kid who forced my mom to sit with me for hours while I “dictated” to her before I could write myself. So clearly, I need to continue this trend.
Allie E. Morse 
I personally think it’s a great idea. Humor is considered a mature defense mechanism, and is considered a great way to cope. There are humorous books available, which my mom found helpful when she was going through cancer, but some sort of online web comic would be great, as it would attract younger cancer patients and survivors. It seems you have the talent to write, so maybe just find someone who can do the illustrating? Hopefully in the future, I will be able to give your web comics to my cancer patients.
Also, the comic you posted is very interesting to me as someone who actually did cancer research, has had cancer hit close-to-home, and wants to go into cancer medicine. Research is a very difficult field; finding a treatment for one form of cancer still feels like it can’t make much of a difference, but seeing the effects on people who have/had cancer, makes it much easier to go to work everyday.
Thank you, Alicia! A friend of mine pointed me to a few webcomics, but they’re all done by people who aren’t the patient (and I really do think it’s harder for caretakers to see the humor) and are so morbid and big downers. I know I’ve told you this before, but I am so glad that you’re going to be an oncologist – you will be a phenomenal one because you get it. How is med school going?
You only dictated until you figured out you could spell phonetically. Of course you were probably about three years old at the time. Made you the great writer that you are today! If it makes you feel better I can’t draw well either…………
There have been two that I know of, actually – Mom’s Cancer started as a webcomic before being collected (although it’s another one not written by the patient), and Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner’s Our Cancer Year was a graphic novel. Pekar might offer the model that would work for you — the man can’t draw at all, but has found talented artists to bring his vision to comics.
(Oh, hi; I’m really this far behind on closing tabs and commenting on old blog posts.)
To be fair, this one isn’t all that old! Hi!
Mom’s Cancer seems like something that would make me want to slit my wrists, as described by another young adult survivor. I think it’s significantly different and more nuanced to find humor as a caregiver than it is as someone going through it yourself. It’s one of the reasons why I love 50/50 but can’t stand Terms of Endearment or the dozens of other films involving “cancer”.
One of my best friends actually has a webcomic, so I’m going to try to rope him into working with me. He can draw and write well, but I can write better (it’s not his fault, he was a STEM major).