Pediatric Oncologist Personal Statement

In 2016 approximately 1,685,210 cases of cancer will be diagnosed, and 595,690 people will die due to this disease. My uncle, unfortunately, was a victim of this deadly disease. My family and I witnessed the effects of this and it impacted us all strongly. I watched as my uncle underwent all the surgeries and treatments, and progressively got weaker and became fragile. The whole experience made me reflect upon myself and I desired to make a change, and help expand the research to develop a cure to end cancer.

Since I have been a young girl, I have dreamed of dedicating my life to aid others in health and wellness. Nursing, however has not always been my leading career choice. Career options such as a pediatrician, oncologist, anesthesiologist, etc. have been considered in my pursuit of finding the proper career path, but through all the consideration I have never lost my true passion of helping others. Through careful examination of these various careers, I discovered that I wanted to pursue a career that was more personal and hands-on. I have chosen to pursue a career as a pediatric oncology nurse. Although this career with be both physically and emotionally demanding, I feel that I have made the best choice to become a nurse and devote my life in the pursuit of restoring health and wellness in children battling detrimental diseases.

Cancer is a word which evokes many different images and emotions. Nothing in this world can prepare a person for the utter devastation of finding out someone has been diagnosed with cancer, especially when this person is a child. Over the past twenty five years the amount of research and the survival rate for children suffering with cancer have increased dramatically. Despite these successes, the funding for new research necessary to keep these children alive and healthy is miniscule and too dependent on short term grants. Of the billions of dollars spent each year on cancer treatments and research less than a third is contributed to researching pediatric cancer. Given the media focus on adult cancers, research for pediatric cancer is

Childhood cancer is two of the most devastating words any parent can hear regarding their child. A child that was diagnosed with cancer in the early 1960s rarely survived and typically led to death. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital understood this concern. When the hospital was created the childhood cancer survival rate was less than 20%. Today, through research and discoveries the rate has raised to 80%.

Growing up, I have had to endure the loss of many family members to the devastating disease we all know as cancer. My family history varies from the different types of the illness from lung cancer, leukemia, breast cancer, ovarian, and so on. My mother and grandmothers on my mother's and father's sides suffered from ovarian, leukemia, and breast cancer respectively. I have seen the horrible effects it has on the victim and their families, and knowing that pain and grief personally, makes me believe that I would be a great nurse in oncology. I want to help those going through what could be some of the toughest times in their lives if not the toughest.

This diverse clinical settings enhanced my clinical skills beyond my expectations. The motivation to perfect my medical knowledge and skills in order to serve my future patients has been by daily inspiration. However the repetitive gratitude expressed by patients and their families and the positive feedback I received from my attendings emphasizing my ability to connect with patients especially in challenging settings,and the satisfaction I get from just making a suffering patient feels a little better, made me certain that I not only have what it takes to become a successful Oncologist but I have the personal qualities and skills that would allow me to really enjoy my

Once I obtain a higher education during my college studies, I will be bound with responsibilities. I must use my newfound knowledge to my full potential by applying it to my life and those who are surrounding me. I will pursue my duty to society by giving back to my community and those in need because I am apparent of the struggles in a rural area. I am attending the University of Arkansas and majoring in Biology. Once I complete my courses and graduate I will apply for medical school at UAMS in Little Rock, Arkansas then continue my studies to specialize in oncology.

These past few years, I believe I have found my true calling in life: oncology. Ever since the diagnosis, I have thrown my energy into service-oriented clubs and organizations, specifically co-leading our B+ club and participating in Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I will never forget the kids’ smiling faces and joyous laughter as they let go of all of their worries and had fun for the night at the B+ annual student-run volleyball tournament. Through my interactions with those battling cancer and observing and talking to my dad’s doctors, I have decided that I want to become a

Would a person say the number forty-three, out of all the numbers in existence, is small? That person would probably say yes, but what if someone said forty-three children a day are diagnosed with cancer (Duncan, Geoff). With the widespread of cancer, one should try to envision themselves as a pediatric oncologist because of the comfortable environment of the work, the great gain of knowledge and salary, and benefits of healing people.

While I was finishing up my freshman year in college, my father went through a major surgery in which he had to remove almost a third of his internal organs due to the visceral metastasis. His attending physician thoroughly but carefully explained to my family about his condition which equipped us with a greater understanding of cancer pathology. Although my father’s condition did not seem promising at that time, my family was touched by the empathetic physician who made my father’s condition sound very manageable and hopeful. I believe that my father’s quick recovery after a total of eight chemotherapy treatments was a miracle. Through his recovery, I became more appreciative of what the medicine could offer to the patients and their families that help them alleviate both physical and emotional

One of the major obstacles that I had to overcome was my diagnosis and removal of a World Health Organization grade three tumor from my spinal column. During the spring semester of my senior year of undergrad, I fail ill and could not continue with the pursuit of my education. During that time I had to withdraw from all of my classes as I underwent two different spinal surgeries in order to remove the tumor. Following the surgery, I was scheduled for radiation treatment which drain me all of my energy and cause me to be sick all throughout the treatment process. I was not able to walk for a short while after the surgery. I have viewed the illness as a challenge and obstacle that I must overcome. My coping skills entail the progress that I was

Cancer is an exceptionally uncommon infection in kids. Every year about eight thousand children are identified to have some type of cancer (Cancer.org). Evidently, the Cancer.org site identifies that due to the recent advances in medical treatment a number of these children have been cured. Notwithstanding, there have been great improvements in survival rates with increases of the number of children beating pediatric cancer increasing daily, and these have been accomplished using chemotherapy and national and global clinical trials. Today with more than sixty percent of youngsters identified to have cancer cured by surgery, chemotherapy,

It was about 5 years ago that I first realized I wanted to become a doctor .We were invited over for lunch at my father’s colleague’s house. When we finished eating we got to meet his daughter, she was very beautiful and about 3 years my senior. She wore a beanie at home and upon realizing why she had worn it my heart just melted. It was at this time we came to know she had a brain tumor diagnosed at an advanced stage.

In 2012 my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, for the following year and a half I watched my mother undergo multiple surgeries, daily radiation, and a variety of other intensive treatments. Throughout the entire process I watched my mother physically and mentally deteriorate. At the time my knowledge of the disease was minimal and not only was I fearful of my mothers future, but I was also unaware of the physiological functions that would overcome my mothers body eternally. Following a year and a half of agonizing and aggressive treatments my family received the news that my mother was officially in complete remission. Throughout my mothers battle with breast cancer my family and I met countless individuals who were

As established in the National Cancer Institute, “Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide for children and adolescents in America, accounting for more than 91,250 children that lose their lives to this disease” (National Cancer Institute). Cancer is not considered a terminal illness, but more of a chronic illness because of the intense treatment that the individual has to endure. As a result of this treatment the chances of survival for children suffering from pediatric cancer has increased around 80 percent. The increment in the survival rate has made it possible for many parents to not have to go through the acceptance that they are about to lose their child to a terminal illness, but have coping strategies that will make them adapt to the fear of the reoccurrence of that illness. This illness has a great impact on the patient as well as the family because not only do they have to adapt to this illness physically, but also mentally. Research has shown that there are both short term and long term effects that come into effect when the child is both in treatment and also years after the treatment. The type of cancers that these adolescents have to endure range from leukemia, brain tumors and other cancerous tumors that have appeared in recent medical studies. These tumors can either be benignant, an acute case that is non-cancerous or malignant, a cancerous case that will need intense treatment over an extended period of time.While many would say there is more of a