My Project

Last semester I mentored with a Pediatrician. I am still waiting placement with a mentor for this semester and I am very excited! Since mentoring in the medical field, I have decided to change from becoming a lawyer to becoming a doctor. From the Pediatric mentorship, I developed a topic that I wanted to learn more about which is childhood cancer's. In my mentorship, I asked my mentor about cancer's in children. She told me the Leukemia was a common childhood cancer; however, she could not give me much information because she was not specialized in that area. I found an article that gives common signs of cancer in children.

In childhood, there are many illnesses. The signs and symptoms of a cancer in a child can often mimic the signs of those childhood illnesses. Although childhood cancer is rare, there are still signs to look out for. With being a parent you should watch for a continuance in unexplained weight loss, a continuation of vomiting in the mornings that can be come along with a headache, a lump or mass (especially look for that in the abdomen, neck, check, pelvis, or armpits), a large amount of bleeding, and/or a whitish color that is behind the pupil in the eye. Children can often not recognize or even explain their symptoms; therefore, as a parent there needs to be an observation of any of the signs listed. There should definitely be a check in signs of constant health or behavioral changes with a child. If there is a concern with a child about cancer, contact the child's doctor and go in for a consultation, as well as get a second opinion. Always be cautious and keep a check on your child's life so there can be a realization if there is a change.

Citation:
"Recognizing the Symptoms of Childhood Cancer - Kids and Cancer." Children's Cancer Research Fund. Web. 23 Jan. 2011. .

I am very interested in learning more about childhood cancer's symptoms, treatments, and organizations that can help; therefore, when reading the above summarized article I was intrigued to further my knowledge. Also, below are two websites that I think will be useful in my quest to learning more about my topic.

--http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f87d4c2a71fca210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD

I think that the St.Jude Hospital website will help because it is a hospital specifically to help children with cancer; therefore, I can learn more about that organization, as well as what they do to help.

--http://paediatric-cancer.blogspot.com/

I think that this site will help because it lists childhood cancer's with information such as symptoms and treatments. It seems very helpful for what I am wanting to learn.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful week! Enjoy your mentorship this semester!