While perhaps only touching the surface of so many young-adult survivorship issues, there was a pretty good column by Ali Ansary in the Huffington Post earlier today discussing the idea of establishing "A New Field of Medicine: Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine." What saddens me is that this is a relatively new way of thinking, but it makes so much sense. We, the AYAs, are neither children nor "old people," and we don't deserve to be treated as such. Cancer survival rates for my demographic haven't dramatically improved since the 70s, but hopefully that will soon be changing. We are growing more vocal as a whole; we are beginning to realize we can demand proper care. And the children who were treated for cancer in the 70s and 80s and survived are now young adults themselves and are finding latent side effects of the crazy chemo and radiation they received. It never really stops, but hopefully, soon, we can reduce the reach of cancer into the lives of young adults. It starts with Awareness!! It continues with you being your own best advocate. And it keeps on going with the support of physicians across the country. Change is unquestionable. This ball has already started rolling, and I cannot wait to see where it goes.
So that's my PSA for the day. No run this happy hump day... I'm saying it here though: tomorrow, I'm running. Right. Also! In case you haven't seen it, the link to my First Descents Boston Marathon fundraising page is below. I'm also putting it up on the side of this blog, to your right! Look to your right!! Check it out; share it; love you all so much! Enjoy your weeks and many thanks from here. More running; less coughing.
http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamFDBoston2012/fundraiser/CarolineBridges
No comments:
Post a Comment