Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection: Personal Statement

After having been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism in 2009 and having to overcome several years of anti-thyroid treatment, I was finally ready to focus my efforts on a career in medicine. Unexpectedly, just after my twenty-fifth birthday, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Following a relapse of the cancer after receiving a partial orchiectomy the stress was overwhelming, but I gathered all my courage and decided to have the complex surgical procedure of Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection, both as a diagnostic and therapeutic approach. After the procedure, as I woke up in the hospital post-operative recovery room shivering, I realized that I got another chance at life. It struck me that I owe my survival not only to the urological team, but also to my family doctor who promptly referred my case to urological services. Most patients’ first doctor contact is with a family practitioner, and this is who I decided that I want to be. As a family physician in Canada, I understand that necessary commitment is needed to maintain patients' well being in a private and timely manner through continuous care. Family physicians' expertise and their ability to work in evidence based manner allows them to handle most common everyday health issues in their communities as well as
I love the amount of diversity that is associated with Family Medicine. It is without a doubt that knowledge of various medical fields helps a family doctor be an effective front-liner when it comes to patient care. However, theoretical knowledge is not enough. I realized this by being a patient myself. I witnessed firsthand what it takes to understand the patient experience, and will undoubtedly learn from these experiences on how to be a more caring and understanding family