Childhood Cancer Canada

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On November 25, 2008, my life forever changed and took a new course. I was the average high school girl, an avid dancer, piano player, and lover of school. I was in the studio often seven days a week, and taught preschoolers to pointe their toes. I looked forward to my senior year as something special; however, it did not turn out exactly the way I had originally planned. It was on a cool, fall day that I discovered a sore, distended area in my lower stomach. Originally, I thought it was just a pulled muscle, but I decided to ask my dad to check it out anyways. Within the next week, I was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer, called a germ cell tumour. The day before American thanksgiving, I underwent a left lateral ovarian resection to remove the tumour from my lower abdomen. Following my surgery, I had chemotherapy. I felt sick to my stomach, and couldn’t eat anything. However, despite my sickness, I experienced true human compassion in love, and friendship. Since that time, I have realized that cancer is not and will not run my life. It is something I would never take back, even if I got a do-over. I want to use what I have learned and experienced to help others like me, and parents and siblings like mine. In memory of those lost, battling, and alive, I want to make a difference for those parents, siblings, friends, and patients. I am currently in nursing school in the hopes of becoming an advanced practice nurse specialist or maybe even a PhD in paediatric haematology/oncology. Cancer and children are not words that people ever want to put together but it is important to recognize the need and lend the hand.