Categories: swansea
Tags: Uni
Date: 25 July 2006 16:26:32
I have just finished two whole days on cancer in children. To say it was emotive is an understatement. Yesterday we gained a basic understanding of the general area and the policy issues that surround it, and then this morning we looked in depth at the treatment for leukaemia, the most common cancer in children, and also looked into lots of other different kinds of cancer, and the early symptoms which we should be aware of. We got into some interesting ethical debates about the different intensities of the treatments. This afternoon we summed up the two days by watching Wit, a very powerful and harrowing film about a woman who dies of ovarian cancer. Most of the class were in tears by the end of it, including myself.
The thing which stands out the most from those two days though, was not something the lecturer said during the lecture. She came up to me during one of the breaks and asked if I was appreciating these sessions. I said yes, because although they have been emotive, they have been well delievered and interesting. She then said that she could sense that I would be really good in pallitive care. The area, along side cancer, that she specialises in.
This comment completely threw me. I wasn't expecting it. Pallitive care isn't something that I had seriously considered as a main career pathway. The idea of working with terminally ill children.... I don't know, its just scary. I had however, thought I'd like to work with children with special needs, which does kind of link in with pallitive care. Slightly.
When I left the lecture I felt overwhelled with emotions from this incredibly powerful film, and completely taken a back with the lecturers comment - my head was spinning with it all. So I bought myself some icecream. Went into the chaplaincy and found our anglican chaplain, so had a chat to him about it. He said that i should take it as a emormous complement and just see where my career takes me and what opportunities arise. He also pointed out that this woman is a specialist in this field, and would be able to recognise the 'right' characteristics required for such an occupation and would not say such a comment unless she meant it. I know this is something I need to pray about, because I want to be working where He believes is best. Its just the whole concept is very scary.