Personal Narrative: Stage 4 Breast Cancer

I didn't understand how serious the situation was until I heard those words, but when I found out it felt like I had skipped forward twenty years. I have been told he is not going to make it this twice now, and he is still fighting. He was cancer free for eleven years before he relapsed, 3 months ago. I am now sixteen and those words are harder to hear now that they were then. At five cancer is not as scary as it is at sixteen, you don’t understand death at five, you do at

Each year, approximately 12.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer and unfortunately that number is not decreasing. My sister, Caitlin, was a part of that statistic 12 years ago, and to say her Ewing’s Sarcoma changed not only her life, but also my family’s would be an understatement. As a child, witnessing the deterioration of my sister’s health and the my family’s normalcy ultimately shaped me into the person I am today; a person that welcomes change with a resilient nature built on a foundation to never quit. I am blessed to say that my sister is flourishing and her cancer has been in remission and upon meeting her today, one would have no idea she ever endured such a relentless disease. Nevertheless in the past two years, my mother

When I was a kid, I always wondered why it took so long for an ill person to become well again. I always thought that if the ill person went to the doctor they would be back to normal the next day, but that’s not the case. For some people it took several days, weeks, months, and even years to conquer an illness but as a child I never could understand that. I don’t know how many times I’ve asked my mom or dad how come the doctors don’t get together and make a “miracle” drug that could heal anything and everything. It wasn’t until the age of 15 when my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer that I understood why it took so long for others to heal and the process that they had to endure in order to be healthy again. Shortly after my grandmother’s diagnosis, I started looking into what it would take to get a drug that would cure cancer through the approval process on the shelf to save some many others just like my grandmother. But I kept running into a dead end. Everything seemed to keep pointing towards chemotherapy and radiation. Although I wanted something to heal my grandmother fast, chemotherapy and radiation was the only solution if I had wish to see her watch me graduate high school. I went to almost every appointment with her to watch how it helped strengthen but also watch as it drained her energy. A month of chemotherapy and a few weeks of radiation and my

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

This past summer changed my life. My health was more substantial in the past three months than it has been my entire life. Cancer is something that impacts everyone's life in one way or another, and this summer it was my own personal experience. Something that I never thought would happen to me did. After finding a lump on my neck I proceeded to go to the doctor expecting to be diagnosed with mono or some other flu like sickness. But after seeing the concerned look on my doctors face I quickly realized that it wasn't simply mono. A biopsy was ordered after countless inconclusive tests. The chairman of radiologist told me and my family that he was 95% sure that the swollen lymph node on my neck was cancer. After a long 4 days not knowing what the true results were I lie awake at night thinking about what the rest of my life will look like. Things that I have never thought about crossed my mind like: Can I have children? These 4 days was by far the longest of my life. I could not stop my mind from racing: Will I be able to graduate from high school? These four days I changed everything about the way that I acted. I spend less time on my cell phone and more time outside by the lake feeling the

Last year my grandmother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. You may think this will be a sob story, where I hope by the end of my essay you will feel so bad for me that you have no other choice but to admit into your school. That is not the case at all. To me, the story of my grandmother’s battle is not one of heartbreak but one of perseverance.

In my family, we have had many people’s lives change due to different types of cancer. In 2017 alone, there were statistics that there would be an estimated 1,688,780 new cancer cases, and 600,920 deaths caused by cancer in the U.S. alone. With these numbers, it shows that every minute, 3 people get diagnosed to a type of cancer. Every minute 1 person dies from cancer. (American Cancer Society, “Cancer Statistical Center”) Cancer is like a deadly weapon in war that we can’t do anything about, and it causes people to fear for their life. But what if I told you about new advances in technology that could save many people's lives. Even though cancer is a dangerous thing in the year 2017, we are also gaining new technology to stop all different types of cancer. Once we can find a way to stop every type of cancer, the

I know firsthand the effects that cancer can make on a person and refuse to believe that it is a death sentence to anyone who obtained it. Sure, there may be numerous treatments

Cancer is the world’s second leading cause of death. In 2017, it is projected that there will be 1,688,780 new cases of cancer of any site and an estimated 600,920 people will die of cancer. Cancer is a highly intellectual, relentless, and malicious disease that consumes and ultimately becomes the host of our bodies. If I could attempt to do something without any chance of failure, I would spend my life researching and finding a cure for all cancers, spreading that cure, and using that knowledge to save the lives of cancer patients. I have seen cancer devour the purest of souls. Pancreatic cancer abruptly yet unobtrusively took my grandmother away in less than two weeks of being diagnosed. A year later, within three weeks of my grandfather being diagnosed with the same cancer, we watched

Personal and professional experiences have empowered me to be a part of the fight against cancer. As a public health student and now professional, I know the burden of the disease and how it effects the quality of those suffering from the illness. I know about rates, trends, preventative measures, tips and tricks on how to prevent the disease. Yet, it wasn’t until someone I knew, or a friend’s family member was diagnosed with cancer and began their journey of healing, that I was personally affected on a deeper level than the statistics, medical literature could ever affect me. The most impactful experience I have with cancer was when I found out that one of my friends, at the tender age of 23 had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Amelia, before

Many people might say “well it’s not you with cancer, why would it change how you go on about your everyday life. To me my grandmother and my relationship hadn’t been a good as it used to be and basically how the doctor was describing everything she didn’t have that much longer to live. I didn’t want her to die without us rebuilding our bond that we previously had. Like i suspected our bond was so far off that we could barely be in the same room together. So now I’m asking myself how can we get better if is all we do is fight.

In the past year, three of my family members, including my dad, have been diagnosed with cancer. In addition, after a four year battle, cancer took the life of one of my friends. As unfortunate as this news is, people all around the world will continue to be left with no other choice but to fight for their lives, until a cure for cancer is discovered. With

Through the help of the researchers, doctors and surgeons many people survive well past their expected lifetime living with cancer. This is done through the

Imagine this, you 're at the doctor’s office for a visit and a test was done to you. The doctor comes back in the room with a melancholy look upon his face and he tells you that you have stage 4 cancer. You would be left devastated wondering what to do next. Not only you, but your family also is left in a dilemma. According to the National Cancer Institute, “In 2016, an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 595,690 people will die from the disease.” Cancer is an extremely serious disease that affects many people around the world. In the United States alone, cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death at 22.5 percent. Not only does this extremity take over your body by the uncontrolled division of

I am a daughter, a wife, and a mother. I am a care provider and I have also been a patient. I had to answer the phone call from my doctor and try to listen to all the words that he spoke to me beyond the word cancer. Now the fear I held so close was attacking me directly. I had to face the fear of death head on. My children were the first images to fill my mind. I could not die and leave them alone and I did not want to cause any fear or pain in their lives. I knew I had to shift my focus to faith and a team of doctors to help me fight this battle. Together we could get through this hurdle and thankfully we did. When the cancer reoccurred, hopelessness engulfed me, but I am a fighter. I brushed myself off and started again. The same team of doctors sprung into action and