Scanxiety

Artwork by Alex Brenchley 24 February 2023

Comic

Panel 1 of a four-panel comic drawn digitally: a black woman with a stripy yellow shirt and outreched hands asks "How did your CT scan go?" and a white man with a moustache and a plaid shirt, with an inscrutible expression and hands jammed into pockets of his corduory trousers replies "Yeah, it was all clear, thanks". The caption text reads "Follow-up scans are hard"

Panel 2 of a four-panel comic drawn digitally: a black woman with a stripy yellow shirt and hands raised in celebration says "Incredible! How are you gonna celebrate" and a white man with a moustache and a plaid shirt, with an inscrutible expression and hand jammed into the pocket of his corduory trousers replies "Errrmm..." The caption text reads "They can bring back anxiety and trauma"

Panel 3 of a four-panel comic drawn digitally: a white man with a moustache and a plaid shirt smiles gently and says "Probably the same as last year" to which a black woman with a stripy yellow shirt places a hand on his shoulder and responds "Good for you". The caption text reads "Even good results"

Panel 4 of a four-panel comic drawn digitally: in a thought bubble, with "Last year..." at the top to indicate when the memory is from, a white man with a moustache and a plaid shirt lays in bed weeping. The caption text reads "Don't always feel great"

Scanxiety. © Alex Brenchley for Wellcome Collection.

About the artist

Alex Brenchley

Alex Brenchley is an artist and cartoonist based in London. His work has been published by the BBC, the NHS, Literary Review, Tinpot Records, Universal Records, and The New Statesman magazine has featured his ‘This England’ cartoon series in every issue since February 2017. Alex was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in his 30s and, following a year of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgeries, he is currently in remission.

Scanxiety

About the artist

Alex Brenchley

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