XKCD "Fifteen Years" - of surviving cancer

AKALib

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Tuesday November 25, 2025 · 4:08 PM PST

2025/11/25 · 16:08

Randall Munroe, creator of the XKCD comic strip, published this comic yesterday titled “Fifteen Years.”

This comic is the fourth one in a series since 2012 -

2012: Two Years,
2017: Seven Years
2020: Ten Years
2020: Fifteen Years

Parts of the previous strips in the series are summarized in the initial grayed-out panels.

Randall’s fiancée, now wife, was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. In the strips, Randall is depicted as Cueball and his wife as Megan.

At this comic's release, it had been 15 years since her diagnosis and treatments. This is the story of their fight with cancer. After 15 years of treatment, there is no sign of cancer and the couple is happily getting old.

I suspect many of us have been through similar experiences, as care-takers of loved ones with cancer or some other ailment, some perhaps with different outcomes or have been at the receiving end of such care by our dear ones.

This strip brings tears of joy and melancholy to my eyes and will to yours too. Even though in our case, the end for our family member came inevitably after over 15 years of care, it is a gentle reminder of the struggles and joy we shared through the years.

This one from 2020 titled “Ten Years” is also a joy to read —

The first one in the series in 2012 😢

Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for the love we have received and the opportunities to share our joys and struggles with our dear ones. And we send our best wishes to the Munroe family.

What’s your story?

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