Q&A with a Cancer Patient

Let's be real for a moment. 

It is almost the end of September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This blog post has been on my mind for several months. What to say? What could I possibly say to bring about awareness in such a way that draws more compassion than uncomfortability? What could I possibly say that will have a real effect? 

But maybe it isn't my words that need to be heard today. 

The person you are going to hear from is Hailey Buis, a dear friend of mine. There are so many things that make Hailey, Hailey. Her favorite color is mint green. Her favorite musician is Lindsey Sterling. She can usually always be found smiling or laughing at something (even if she doesn't have a reason to!!!). Also, she has cancer. 

[Before you continue reading, I would like you to take just a glance at this pie chart to get a better idea of what we're going to be talking about. (Particularly the tiniest green sliver on the right side.)]

Q&A with a Cancer Patient 

Tell me about your cancer experience.

I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in December of 2014. Luckily I don’t have to go through chemotherapy, but I do have to take pills that have chemo-like [effects]. Some of the symptoms I’ve had from taking this pill are [as follows]: a rash that covers my whole body, some hair loss, higher risk of getting sick, etc. It’s hard. This is a trial for me.

But sometimes, I feel like I don’t have cancer because I’m not in the hospital 24/7 like most cancer patients. I’m lucky.

How were you diagnosed?

How we found out I had leukemia . . . was because of my vision. I wear glasses [normally], but I wasn’t able to read anything even with them on. I was really confused and I texted my mom after one of my classes at school and told her what was happening. She told me that she would make an eye doctor appointment that same week.

When I went to the eye doctor, they took pictures of the inside of my eyes. They told me that there was blood and fluid pooling behind my eyes, which caused the blurry vision. The next thing they told me really freaked me out: ‘you need to be taken to the ER immediately.’

What was going through your mind? Was cancer ever on your radar?

I thought I was going to need something like eye surgery. I never thought that I would be diagnosed with cancer. That word was never in my mind.

But when I was in the emergency room, they immediately took me to a room and started an IV in my left hand. They then did an MRI and a CT scan and I remember my doctor coming into the room . . . Sitting on my bed . . . Telling me there was good news and bad news. The good news: I didn’t have any tumors. The bad news: my white blood count was extremely high. I learned that a normal teenager has about 4,000-10,000 WBC’s (white blood cells), but my levels were at 610,000. My doctor explained that 2 chromosomes decided to get together when they weren’t supposed to, which caused my WBC count to increase, which means I have leukemia.

Since your diagnosis, has your perspective on life changed at all?

Yes. A lot. I’m more aware now of how life can be flipped upside down. But I try to look at the positive more than the negative, and I’ve realized the importance of simply being alive. I have leukemia for a reason, and maybe it’s to raise awareness for childhood cancer.

I’ve met so many people that understand what I’m going through, especially at Camp. The friends that I have made there have been able to share their experiences with me, and because of that I have been able to develop empathy for them.

///// This is when I showed Hailey the pie chart and informed her that childhood cancer research receives 4% of all funding. /////

I’m shocked that childhood cancer only gets 4%.

Were you aware of that?

No. I had no idea. This is so wrong.

What do you think? Especially because to you, this isn’t just some number. This affects YOUR life personally.

I’m not saying that people shouldn’t donate to [adult cancers], but people should try to be considerate of all the other cancers that deserve the same awareness and attention. I am still trying to get over the shock.

How do you feel in the respect that this affects you personally?

It made me go, “WHAT?” Like, I just didn’t expect to . . . There are no words to describe how shocked I am. I can’t believe how clueless I’ve been. It would be awesome if there was a cure, not just for me, but for all those other kids that are going through the same journey.

Did you know that 1 in 5 kids with cancer won’t survive?

No, I didn’t know that. One of my friends that I met in the hospital went through chemotherapy and passed away. I believe it’s because of the lack of development in treatment. Again with the stats I saw on [adult cancers], they are getting all these donations but I feel like childhood cancers should get just as much as they do. That way less children will die. It’s not that I’m against people donating to adult cancers, I just believe I should be receiving more than 4%. As well as the other kids.

Okay, great. I have a few more questions, we’re almost done. Tell me what your dream is as far as Childhood Cancer Research goes.

I would like there to be more awareness and more cures for all the kids who have to go through this kind of trial. Because, trust me, it’s not easy.

Do you think that there could be a cure one day?

If we get more funding, and people start realizing that this is important just like any other cancer, then yes. There could be. 

_______________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading. It is my hope that this post simply didn't fill your head with terrifying numbers, but maybe moved you to want to make a change. 4% is not enough. 

To directly donate to Hailey's specific Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:

https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate

Other organizations for all childhood cancers:

http://www.acco.org/donate/

https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/donation.do?gclid=CjwKEAjwgo6_BRC32q6_5s2R-R8SJAB7hTG-TQ828IrjqBJ5NIp_-Moyp3X9x5zQLXbxqNstPa6bzhoCgPLw_wcB&cID=14262&pID=24671&sc_cid=kwp12886&s_kwcid=AL!4519!3!92051055082!b!!g!!childhood%20cancer%20facts&ef_id=V@QTGAAAAZNZJthx:20160922172447:s

EDIT: this blog post has been viewed by so many people! Thank you to everyone who has shared. Please keep up the good work and keep sharing! Also, please donate! Even if you only donated $5, it would still make a difference. If everyone who read this blog so far donated $5, we would have over $2,000 raised for childhood cancer research! That is a lot! Please, KEEP SHARING. It could save lives.