My College Admissions Essay: My Experience With Lung Cancer

I was allergic to the post-surgical medication and it caused me to break out. Thus, I spent many nights in the emergency department and an abundant amount of time in my doctors’ offices. By the time I was twelve I had already been a patient of a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, pediatrician, endocrinologist, and I was about to become the patient of an oncologist. Routine pre-surgical blood work came back abnormal and due to my family history, I was immediately sent to an oncologist. The reason for my abnormal results that day was never found out, but I am very fortunate I had nothing wrong with me. At this point, I realized that when I grew up I wanted to be a physician. I wanted to be the person that helped so many others like myself. I felt, at the age of 13, that I owed my health to these physicians and that it was my duty to give back.

Everyone hears the word “Cancer” and automatically thinks death? Imagine being told you have cancer a month before Christmas and having to start chemotherapy right away. That was me at age 16 barely a junior in High School, they say high school is supposed to be a great experience. And it was at the beginning which was my freshman and sophomore year. I was that girl athlete with lots of friends who went day by day not caring about my health I would eat lots of junk food and stay up late at night. I come from a Hispanic family single parent my mom and 4 siblings 3 girls and one boy. Two had already gotten married and there was only 3 left at home including me. My mom would work out in the fields so sometimes she 'd come home late, therefore

Growing up I seen my mom, aunts, uncles and grandfather struggle with the death of my grandmother. Everyday there was a new struggle whether it was getting up to go to work or eat. My grandmother died of breast cancer at the age of fifty two, it devastated my family. The question asked “Is why do I want to go into the medical field?” I want to go into the medical field because I want to be able to make a difference in this world. I want to do research to cure chronic diseases, I want to be able to tell a family that everything will be alright, and I want to be able to save a family the devastation that my family felt.

I’ve always had an interest in becoming a Doctor. Even as a young child. Unfortunately, I lost my grandpa January 23, 2016 to a Lung Disease. He and I had a great relationship. He inspired me to be the best that I can be. Through his battle with Lung disease, I saw how the Doctors cared for him in a special way. My father suffered from a stroke that nearly changed his life. Watching him progress and get treated from amazing Doctors opened my eyes. That’s when I realized becoming a Doctor would allow me to care for people the same way my loved ones were cared

My paternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 7yr old. At this age, I was too young to comprehend what was going on, but I do remember the significance of the situation and the impact that it had on my entire family. It truly influenced me. My research done on Radiation Therapy substantiates that this field has a strong impact on people’s lives both physically and mentally. Within this past year my maternal grandmother was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Seeing the effect that a positive support system can have as well as the success that the radiation therapy has had on her has reinforced my desire to be able to pursue a career that would allow me to help people get through tough times in their lives by being able to provide physical care as well as emotional support.

But out of this helplessness, came a strong desire to help and be involved in medicine. I persevered in the study of sciences, volunteering in clinical settings, and had research and internship experiences that have

I never really thought I would be involved with cancer in the way I am now, as in being a student in

Leukemia is “a malignant progressive disease in which the bone marrow and other blood-forming organs produce increased numbers of immature or abnormal leukocytes. These suppress the production of normal blood cells, leading to anemia and other symptoms.”An estimated combined total of 162,020 people in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, 60,192 people die, 14% live in remission and my father is just another statistic. When I was nine years old, my father was diagnosed with Leukemia, an illness that at the time I did not understand. This left my mother raising two kids and working two jobs to make ends meet. Throughout this time of never ending hospital visits, I experienced the kindness and care provided to us by my father’s doctors - something that until this day I will never forget.

The topic that was picked for this Pathophysiology paper is lung cancer. This topic was picked because a lot of people in the United States smoke but why? When this most likely will happen. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States including both men and women. The American cancer society estimates 186,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year and more than 165,000 deaths are because of it. The biggest cause of Lung Cancer relating it too 85% of cases is tobacco smoke, because of the repeated exposure to the inhaled substance. And don’t forget about second hand smoke! (Ignatavicius- workman Medical surgical nursing book 7th edition) First this paper is going to tell what to assess for in a patient

My aunt, who was the kindest person I have ever known, passed away when I was ten years old. Before she passed away, she was bedridden for long time. Because of the illness she had, she suffered severely for a couple of years. During that time, doctors told her that she had a breast cancer. She fought for two years till the time she gave up. While she dies, I was in a hospital at her bedside till she gasps her last breath. What a traumatic experience for a young boy to witness my aunties death. The firsthand experience I had, motivated me to train and be a health professional and help patients to recover.

My grandmother is a second mother to me as my parents were busy working to support our family. She has raised me to become the person I am today. I just started college when I learned that my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went through a major surgery removing more than half of her right breast. I independently researched and studied medical vocabulary, so as to understand what the surgeons, PAs and nurses were communicating when caring for her. Recovering from surgery was difficult for my grandmother, and during this time, I encountered various medical staff trying their best to help. They often came to me and explained how her condition was to keep me and my family informed. At this moment, I began to grow my passion toward medical profession. I wanted to care for others like they had cared for my family. Thanks to these medical professionals, to this day my grandmother is healthy and cancer-free.

My parents told me that I was going to start chemotherapy and that I had to have surgery to put my port in. They said that I would have to stay in the hospital for a while and that I would feel really sick. On december 16,2007 I checked into Children’s hospital in Boston. I figured out what cancer was a couple of months later. I was not a big fan of shots but they gave several of them daily. The worst thing about being in a hospital is that there is nothing you can do to improve your situation. I got used to taking pills because they would give me multiple every day. The worst part about cancer was the fact that I lost my hair.During my beginning phases of Cancer I was told to miss school. I ended up missing 5 months of school while in the first grade. The principle wanted to hold me back a year but my teacher said that I was so advanced that I was able to move to the seond grade anyway.In November of 2008 the Make A Wish foundation granted me my wish of going to Disney World. I had never been outside of Massachusetts so going to Florida as a big deal for me. I had also never been on a plane and people say that your ears start to hurt so I was pretty

I have been so interested in science from a young age .Throughout my whole life I had the need to strive for excellence. My decision to pursue a specialty in the field of therapeutic radiography was based on my academic pursuits and personal desire to contribute and make a difference in the lives of cancer patients. My favourite aunt passed away after she was diagnosed with breast Cancer.

This has prepared me to work and perform internships during college and working long hours for my career. Lastly, communicating with the residents has helped me appreciate my culture. One of my favorite residents lost his arm in WW2, and inspires because he still smiles more than any other resident. I have learned about the eating habits and prayer rituals of my German and Italian ancestors from studying the residents. It is more than any textbook can teach

Years later, during the first week of my senior year of high school I was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. I reacted strategically—I continued going to school until my surgery, chose to keep the work load I would have otherwise had and decided that cancer would never stop me from being who I want to be.