Cancer Survival

US, Too, International [prostate cancer survival]
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

NOTE: These sites were reviewed in October 1998. Content & presentation described in this study may have been changed since that time.

In contrast to the relative simplicity of the two child custody sites, the two cancer-related sites reflect the fear, effort and anguish that have been invested in the fight against prostate and ovarian cancer.

In 1995, an estimated 26,600 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in the United States, with an estimated 14,500 deaths that year. In 1996, there were are estimated 317,000 new cases of prostate cancer, accounting for about forty percent of all reported cancer cases in men. Prostate cancer, aside from skin cancer, is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in U.S. men The National Cancer Institute also estimates that slightly over 11 million men have a slowly progressive form of prostate tumor development, and since lung cancer incidence rates have reached an apparent plateau, cancer of the prostate gland has become the most common type of cancer among both black and white males.

Both of these cancers tend to be asymptomatic (showing no outward signs of the disease) and both are lethal: ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.. Two-thirds of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer die within five years due to late diagnosis. Estimates for prostate cancer are somewhat better if detected early, but an estimated 50% of prostate deaths are at first attributed to other causes, since the men had no outwardly apparent symptoms of the cancer at the time of death. (American Cancer Society 1998.)

Because of the insidious nature of these two cancers, the number of survivors is low. Family members touched by these two cancers have created literally hundreds of personal Web pages, mourning these deaths and working for better information and treatments.

At first glance, the two most widely indexed cancer pages are quite similar in content. Both contain information about reaching other support groups, both contain reports and literature related to the disease itself and both contain links to the organization that sponsors the page, in both cases non-profit volunteer groups of survivors or family members- NOT professionals, medical facilities or vendors of any kind.

But some interesting differences in layout and design choices, which actually constitute the language of communication on the Web, are quite striking.

While both sites are attractively designed, with light backgrounds and clear text, the US TOO International prostate cancer site is definitely oriented to a factual approach. There are no photographs, no graphics, no color and no personal references at all- not so much as a name to contact. The site has a definitely impersonal feel, almost clinically cold, with its factual content and plain black text. This page consists of a small purple logo, a brief descriptive paragraph and 14 links.

The "features" are made up of factual data: national broadcast dates for a new video, a Chicago Tribune article about vaccines, a National Cancer Institute highlight, the results of the latest Harris survey, (including questions about "quality of life", treatment options and side effects of treatments) and three extensive "data sheets". There are also links to the organizations email, a list of support groups, organizational pamphlets and publications, a section on treatment, clinical trials, an intriguing "advocacy" area containing an email petition to Congress to increase research funding and a form for more information.

In sharp contrast, one of the most graphically striking sites in this study was the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition site. Each page has the same full color borders and intricate artwork, with many layers of photographs. ("The Garden" is collection of over 80 photographs of survivors and victims, powerful in an intensely personal way. "The Quilts" contains dozens of photographs of the four different groups working on quilts, with detailed instructions on how to participate.) The emphasis on this site, despite the heavy stress on political activity, is on sharing the experience of living with this disease: "Mind & Body", "Coping", "Discuss it", "Lets chat", and "Ask the experts" are only a few of the many pages directly related to sharing this experience. "Judith's Story" relates the hour-by-hour details of a NOCC members death, carefully written by her husband and extraordinarily powerful in its simplicity. Active participation is at the heart of this page, filled with pictures of real people and real deaths.

The gender-based communication patterns are strongly evident within these two sites. The male site relied on authority, research, professionalism and privacy. The female site was made up of the personal- photographs, art, narratives, and layers of personal experiences, shared in detail with very little authoritative material involved.

BEREAVEMENT

Each site was analyzed using a spreadsheet constructed of major points in the Sun MicroSystems "Writing for the Web" checklist (See Appendix B for the site analysis spreadsheet found here) The sites were compared on the basis of content (purpose, audience, technical specificiations, interactivity and theme) and design elements (layout, graphics, text, effects and navigation.) The results by topic are detailed below.

Last Updated: April 1999
Copyright © 1999 Tami Sutcliffe
All rights reserved.
Watercolours by Manette Fairmont: "Tuscany" 15x15 and "Field of Angels" 15x15
Courtesy of Left Coa

Last Updated: April 1999
Copyright © 1999 Tami Sutcliffe
All rights reserved.