Overlooking cancer: Practising cancer diagnostics in the subjunctive mood

Abstract

The paper explores modes of uncertainty, when watching the possible development of signs of lung cancer at a lung cancer outpatient clinic. Based on ethnographic fieldwork at a clinic in Denmark, it is presented how potential signs of lung cancer, termed nodules, on people’s lungs call to be managed due to the hope and aspirations of alleviating cancer. The paper suggests that the significance of the uncertainties of lung nodules is tried out by watching the nodule with follow-up CT scans and opposed by focusing on intervention. Approaching the management of uncertainties as in a subjunctive mood in addition to a focus on cautionary but qualified guessing, the paper proposes that the physicians try out a possible but indeterminate future of cancer, to contain the prognostic and existential uncertainties by acting ‘as if’ cancer will develop. However, in this cautionary managing of cancer doubt and uncertainty, ambiguities are (re-)produced, leaving an interim certainty: This lung nodule is most likely not and may never become cancer. In this sense, the paper argues that how we as humans are practising the management of risk and uncertainty is shared across different, specific locations.