Breast Cancer Career Essay

Whether it’s someone’s son battling leukemia, someone’s wife battling breast cancer, or someone’s grandmother battling lung cancer, ultimately they are all fighting the same battle against the same deadly opponent; cancer. It takes a special kind of person to have the courage to challenge cancer and in my eyes anyone with such bravery is considered a hero. At a young age I was exposed to the wrath of cancer and its powerful effects on a family. Seeing the emotional toll on not only those with cancer but also the families of those loved ones was eye opening and led me to my career goal of becoming an oncologist. My fascination with cancer first began around the age of six when my best friend’s mom lost her life to lung cancer. At the time I did not understand why this disease took an innocent woman’s life. My curiosity led to many questions about her death, most of which my mom would only vaguely answer. As I got older I started researching and gathering facts about cancer, what it was, what types there were and its common treatments. I became infatuated with the power and complexity of cancer and soon
realized that discovering new information about it was not just a hobby but my passion. Not only have I seen someone lose their battle to cancer but I have also seen someone win against cancer.
My friend’s mom whom I played soccer with my whole life was diagnosed with breast cancer and after years of being in and out of hospitals, losing her hair and being emotionally drained she was finally cancer free. Although it was a long road she still had a more positive outlook on life than anyone I had ever met, her positivity was admirable and inspirational. She was fighting what would most likely be her most challenging obstacle in life and she was still glowing every time I saw her. People like her are the reason I want to become an oncologist, finding out she was cancer free was rewarding and even though there will be people I have to watch die of cancer there will also be people I can see gain their lives back and that is what I will aim to
achieve. I have a strong passion for oncology however other fields of medicine excite me as well such as neurology and cardiology. In every field of medicine doctors have the power to save someone’s life. The idea that a person’s life can solely rely on your diagnosis and treatment can be intimidating, but, I am prepared to take on that challenge. I have watched every medical show there is on TV, I have been in hospitals on multiple occasions, I have seen people die, and I have seen people survive, and every challenge there is that comes with a job in the medical field are ones I am determined to overcome. I have looked forward to pursuing a career in medicine for many years, and I am willing to go through the rigorous courses in medical school and handle the stress that comes with it. The future is finally here and my determination to become a doctor will certainly get me to the finish line. The only thing that could ever spark my interest and get my full attention was always anything to do with medicine. My mom and friends never understood why getting an IPad for Christmas was less exciting then finding out doctors just discovered another type of cancer or removed a tumor near someone’s spine. Although I was appreciative of gifts my eyes never lit up as much as they do when it comes to medical terminology. Over the years, through my personal experiences and through others I have grown to realize that becoming an oncologist is the obvious route to choose. Oncologists have to watch patients die in front of them every day however they also have the incredible and rewarding experience of telling someone they are “cancer free” and that is something that is worth the while.